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Nation in brief

After 8 years and no trial, pair released

By wire services
Published April 20, 2005

PLAQUEMINE, La. - Two brothers jailed for more than eight years without a trial were ordered released after a murder case that went nowhere because of a succession of postponements, changes in attorneys, and motions denied or never ruled on.

Percy Dyer and James Thomas had been awaiting trial in the slaying of a Baton Rouge man whose bound body was found next to his burning car.

A state appeals court ruled last month that prosecutors waited too long to try the case, and Judge William Dupont signed an order Monday throwing out the second-degree murder charges.

Prosecutors said they planned to appeal the dismissal to the state Supreme Court.

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - Michael Jackson's attorney on Tuesday challenged the authenticity of photographs that appeared to show the mother of the pop star's accuser with bruises from an alleged beating by store security guards.

The woman's family received a settlement of more than $150,000 over the 1998 store incident. The singer's lawyers have used it to argue that the family has a history of making false claims for money.

Defense attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. attacked the photos, introduced by the prosecution Monday, asking the woman when they were taken. She said immediately, to document her injuries.

"But didn't you testify that you didn't have these bruises immediately?" asked Mesereau.

She said she did so at the instruction of a defense attorney after she was arrested on suspicion of assault and battery, burglary and petty theft - charges that were dropped.

[Last modified April 20, 2005, 02:56:36]