Pellicano trial delay may help both sides

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 11 (UPI) -- A postponement in the Los Angeles trial of private investigator Anthony Pellicano and six others on federal charges may help both sides in the matter.

Wednesday's agreement between federal prosecutors and defense attorneys will delay the trial until February, which should give the defense time to prepare while giving federal investigators more time to gather evidence, The Los Angeles Times said.

Pellicano is facing racketeering and wiretapping charges related to a case in which he was hired by one of his co-defendants, entertainment attorney Terry Christensen, to wiretap the former wife of billionaire Kirk Kerkorian.

Both sides have debated the validity of search warrants used to seize key evidence in the case and whether the evidence should be admitted in the trial.