Jury begins deliberations in Gordon bribery trial

A Brooklyn Supreme Court jury began deliberations Friday in the bribery trial of state Assemblywoman Diane Gordon. Prosecutors claim the Brooklyn legislator agreed to sell a private developer city-owned

News 12 Staff

Apr 4, 2008, 10:00 PM

Updated 6,093 days ago

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A Brooklyn Supreme Court jury began deliberations Friday in the bribery trial of state Assemblywoman Diane Gordon.
Prosecutors claim the Brooklyn legislator agreed to sell a private developer city-owned land in exchange for a $500,000 Queens home. Their primary piece of evidence is a secretly made video of a conversation between Gordon and developer Ranthan Batheja in which the deal was discussed. Batheja was working as an informant for the district attorney's office at the time of the conversation.
Defense attorneys maintain that the video was evidence of entrapment. However, prosecutors say it was Gordon, not Ratheja, that initiated the deal.
Jurors in the case were instructed by the judge to pay close attention to Ratheja's testimony and not to misinterpret the fact that Gordon didn't testify as evidence of wrongdoing.
Gordon faces several charges of bribery and misconduct. If convicted, she faces up to 15 years in prison.
Assemblywoman faces first day in court