Snipes may have to waive claim of ineffective counsel
Counsel issues arise as jury selection in actor's tax trial concludes
A judge has said that actor Wesley Snipes may have to waive a claim that he
received ineffective counsel as jury selection in the star’s tax trial reached a
conclusion.
Associated Press reports that Snipes had employed two lawyers for
his defence, but dismissed both of them later on, claiming that he received
ineffective counsel. US District Judge William Terrell Hodges agreed to delay
the trial on these grounds, but called it a ploy.
Snipes has since rehired one of the lawyers, Daniel Meachum, a move that did
not sit well with Hodges, who said he would not entertain any arguments of
ineffective counsel if Meachum stayed on the case.
Snipes and two co-defendants were charged in an October 2006 indictment with
fraudulently claiming $11m (£5.62m) in refunds on 1996 and 1997 income taxes
already paid. The star of the ‘Blade’ trilogy and other films also was charged
with failure to file returns from 1999 through 2004.
Opening arguments are set to go ahead on Wednesday after two days of jury
selection. 60 potential jurors were questioned before five men and 11 women were
chosen.
Further reading:
Celebs back Snipes in tax trial
Wesley Snipes faces court over unpaid tax
bills