SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The lineup of former athletes called to the witness stand is expected to continue when Barry Bonds’ perjury trial resumes on Wednesday.
On Wednesday morning, former San Francisco Giants outfielder Marvin Benard will face questioning from Bonds attorney Allen Ruby. Benard finished up Tuesday’s testimony by telling the jury that he purchased steroids from trainer Greg Anderson.
Anderson is in jail for refusing to testify. Other former athletes are also testifying that they knowingly used steroids supplied by the trainer.
Prosecutors hope to use the players’ testimony to undercut Bonds’ position that Anderson duped him into unknowingly using designer steroids. None of the players, except for former San Francisco Giants catcher Bobby Estalella, are expected to directly testify about Bonds.
Prosecutors said in a court filing before the trial started March 21 that Estalella will “testify that the defendant admitted using performance-enhancing drugs, as well as their effects, and that they had several discussions regarding that topic.”
Also on the government’s witness list: former Oakland Athletic Randy Velarde and former Bonds teammates Armando Rios and Benito Santiago.
Colorado Rockies first baseman Jason Giambi and his brother, former major leaguer Jeremy Giambi, testified Tuesday before Benard. The Giambis gave similar accounts of their relationship with Anderson. They said that before the 2003 season Anderson supplied them with steroids designed to evade Major League Baseball’s plan to test players for steroids that season.
Bonds, the major league record-holder for home runs in a career (762) and a season (73), has pleaded not guilty to four charges that he lied to a grand jury when he denied knowingly taking performance-enhancing drugs. He also pleaded not guilty to a charge of obstruction.
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