Defense has no more witnesses, jury to hear closing arguments tomorrow
Defense counsel for W.R. Grace said they have no further witnesses Thursday afternoon after finishing up an hour and a half direct of EPA on-site coordinator, Paul Peronard.
Molloy will instruct the jury first thing in the morning, and the jury will begin to deliberate by tomorrow, Molloy said.
“Life’s a circle,” defense attorney David Bernick told Peronard as he took the stand for a second time Tuesday afternoon.
Peronard was first called as a witness for the government at the beginning of the trial in February.
Bernick focused his questions on letters and emails that Peronard sent to officials within in the EPA in 2002
Bernick emphasized Peronard’s reference to himself as “King of Libby.” Peronard said the remarks were taken out of context and that he was working under several limitations in the EPA when he was in charge of the Libby cleanup in 2002.
“It wasn’t the war powers act, I couldn’t put a missile base up there,” Peronard said in reference to his power in Libby.
Tensions thickened between Peronard and Bernick at many points during direct. Bernick moved to strike two of Peronard’s answers because they didn’t answer his question. Molloy also had to tell the two to not argue over each other.
“You’re not on trial here, I’m not saying you are,” Bernick told Peronard. “You don’t have to defend yourself.”
Bernick asked Peronard about Libby attic insulation cleanup and tried to prod Peronard into saying the EPA didn’t want to bring national attention to the cleanup. Peronard insisted this was not the case.
“Isn’t it true, in 2000, there was discussion between you and EPA headquarters about known risks to Libby residents in the late ’80s?” Bernick said.
The government’s redirect was short as the prosecution tried to subdue the drama that Bernick attempted to stir that afternoon.
Under cross-examination, Peronard told the jury that he never bullied anyone within the EPA, nor did he exert selfish desires to be the “King of Libby.”
–Kelsey Bernius (posted 4:45 pm)
Posted: May 5th, 2009 under News.
Tags: Bernius, EPA, Peronard
Comments
Comment from Ann
Time May 5, 2009 at 9:53 pm
Paul is not only a dedicated public servant, he is also hot! Leave him alone Mike, go bark crazy up another tree.
Comment from Mike Crill Missoula,Mt
Time May 5, 2009 at 11:33 pm
Ann, Paul ain’t done crap for Libby as he is as fonnie as a “EPA ASBESTOS expert” who comes to a town sick and dying as the “KING” and he must of had a hay day from day one as he became apart of “who gives a crap about a sick and dying town full of sheeple who are already sentenced to death so why not, why not make a few million but we have to lie about Libby being not safe/deadly, in order to down play the exposure.How else can we drag this on for 10 plus years and do nothing to save anyone but to advertise Libby as a safe place to live and raise a family. What I find so cute about Pauly is 1, he ain’t in prison yet,2 he’ll be goin to Hell with all the rest of them who, even knew in the 60’s and 70’s from Hamster tests done,by EPA/OSHA and Grace, using the same Libby Tremolite to find out and prove Libby causes Mesothelioma. Paul may have fooled the town, the people, cuz the rest are crooks(remember we are the victims) too. And Paul, even I looked upon you and 10 years later…I just ain’t got no respect for you Paul no matter what side you work for. Your all the same mold.Your selling Libby as safe Paul is murder. I call this duck what it is…Paul. You need to, also….Ann, honey, you can have ol cutie pie and all the asbestos in Libby you can breathe and the madness and disease and sickness and suffering and death and oh who gives a crap….I am just telling it like it is…huh Paul…
Comment from Mike Crill Missoula,Mt
Time May 5, 2009 at 4:55 pm
Paul became the leader of the sheeple and since 1999, allowed the sheeple to continue to be exposed to suffer and die as the rest. Paul was and still is the leader of 10 years of murder.How bout that EPA??? Grace too.All a bunch of murderous bastards. I am speaking as a victim since there is no justice to what was done to me/us. Molloy and this trial is a joke and if Libby gets a guilty verdict and Molloy over rules the Jury, then this never happened. Who care anyway…