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Webber gets key break in case Posted: Tuesday July 08, 2003 7:37 PMDETROIT (AP) -- Prosecutors were banned Tuesday from presenting key testimony and evidence at the perjury trial of Sacramento Kings star Chris Webber. Prosecutors cannot use notes kept by Michigan basketball booster Eddie Martin as evidence that Webber borrowed money from him while playing in high school and college, U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds ruled. Prosecutors also were prohibited from calling other players to testify about amounts they said they received from Martin. Edmunds said she would probably not allow wiretapped phone conversations in which Martin reportedly tells an acquaintance about how much Webber owed him. Webber, and his father, Mayce Webber Jr., were charged with lying to a federal grand jury about money authorities say the player received from Martin. Jury selection begins next Tuesday. Defense lawyers were pleased by Edmunds' ruling. "We are always happy to win any motion that we file," said Steve Fishman, Chris Webber's lawyer. Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Corbett said he wasn't surprised by the ruling. "I don't think we're any worse off than I anticipated," he said. Martin died in February at age 69 without testifying before a federal grand jury. The former auto worker pleaded guilty in 2002 to conspiracy to launder money and told federal prosecutors he took gambling money, combined it with other funds and lent $616,000 to Webber and three other Michigan players. The Kings' forward has denied taking anything of significant value from Martin. Because of NCAA violations connected to the case, Michigan was banned from postseason play in 2003 and '04, and forfeited 112 regular-season and tournament victories from five seasons, plus its victory in the 1992 NCAA semifinal.
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