LOS ANGELES : Ruling on ‘Sabotage’ Claim in Denny Case Due Jan. 22

The judge handling the trial of the three principal defendants in the Reginald O. Denny beating case said at a hearing Friday that he will rule by Jan. 22 on one attorney’s motion that the charges be dropped because of sabotage.

The hearing before Los Angeles Superior Court Judge John W. Ouderkirk was held to determine whether the Center for Constitutional Law and Justice improperly represented defendant Damian Monroe Williams in the preliminary hearing.

Dennis Palmeiri, an attorney for the now-defunct center, testified Thursday that he was ordered by superiors not to pursue the case vigorously and not to object to potentially damaging statements Williams made to police.

Williams’ new attorney, Edi M.O. Faal, argued Friday that Williams received ineffective counsel and could not receive a fair trial because of widespread media reports about Williams’ statements to police. Deputy Dist. Atty. Lawrence Morrison disagreed, contending that Palmeiri offered a vigorous defense for Williams and was simply trying to help his former client with the sabotage testimony.