Defense won't call witnesses in gambling corruption trial

MONTGOMERY, Al.
The defendants in the State House vote-buying trial have decided not to put any witnesses on the stand.
Defense lawyers indicated to U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson today that they plan to rest without putting on evidence.
Lawyers will report to court late Monday morning to discuss motions to dismiss the case before sending it to the jury.
Resting without calling witnesses is often seen as a sign of defense confidence. Prosecutors in the retrial put on a stripped-down case with just two weeks of testimony.
VictoryLand owner Milton McGregor, Sen. Harri Anne Smith, I-Slocomb, and four others are accused of offering or taking bribes in connection with a 2010 gambling bill aimed at allowing electronic bingo casinos to continue to operate.

The case first went to trial last summer and ended with some acquittals but jurors also were undecided on some counts.
Lobbyist Tom Coker was the only defendant to put on a defense then. Coker called one witness to the stand, but that witness was put through an aggressive cross-examination by prosecutors who tried to extract testimony to damage the other defendants.
Thompson said Friday that he would hold closing arguments Tuesday if there was no defense case.