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Posted: Tuesday, 08 July 2008 7:26AM

Worthy: Kilpatrick Could Face Amended Charges

Detroit (AP)  -- Text messages obtained by the Wayne County prosecutor could lead to an amended perjury charge against Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick.

Maria Miller, a spokeswoman for Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, said the amended charge would involve "sexual or romantic relationships'' involving Kilpatrick and ``other women,'' but did not say how the charge would be amended.

She said the charge is expected to be amended in the ``near future,'' and no one else is expected to be charged in the case at this time.

Kilpatrick already is accused of lying during a whistle-blowers' trial when he denied having a romantic relationship with then-Chief of Staff Christine Beatty.

Beatty also faces perjury charges stemming from testimony she gave during the same trial when she denied such a relationship.

Assistant Prosecutor Robert Moran had warned attorneys representing Kilpatrick and Beatty during a hearing last Thursday that more evidence in the case had been uncovered and charges would be amended.

Kilpatrick attorney James Thomas declined to comment Monday on any possible amended charges by prosecutors or any evidence to be admitted into the case.

The prosecutor's office also filed a motion containing the text messages to be admitted as evidence in the case.

The document was filed under seal Monday afternoon with 36th District Court Judge Ronald Giles.

Giles had extended the deadline for the motion from last week until Monday. The text messages obtained from the city's former communications provider will be reviewed to determine if their release threatens the ability of Kilpatrick and Beatty to receive a fair trial, he said.

A ruling on making the text messages public and including them in the case file is expected by Giles on July 14.

"We have said from the beginning that we want this case to be treated as any other,'' Worthy said. ``We are litigating a criminal case. There should be no special arrangements because of the parties involved. In any other case, there would be a public filing, this case should be no different.''

Kilpatrick and Beatty face a Sept. 22 preliminary examination before Giles. They also are charged with misconduct and obstruction of justice stemming from testimony they gave during a police whistle-blowers' trial.

They also are accused of lying about their roles in the firing of a police official. Both have denied any wrongdoing.

Excerpts of text messages first published by the Detroit Free Press in January have contradicted their testimony.


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Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 
 
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