Judge bars Clemens wife before testimony

WASHINGTON, July 5 (UPI) -- A federal judge Tuesday barred Roger Clemens' wife Debbie from his perjury trial because she is likely to be called as a witness.

"There is no question that we will be calling her as a witness," the baseball star's attorney, Rusty Hardin, told U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton in Washington. After her testimony, Debbie Clemens will be allowed to stay in court to support her husband, the New York Daily News reported.

The government's chief witness, former Yankees trainer Brian McNamee, has named Debbie Clemens as a user of human growth hormone, but unlike her husband, she has never spoken about it under oath.

Roger Clemens, who denied using steroids and HGH to Congress as his wife sat behind him, is charged with six criminal counts including perjury and obstruction of Congress.

Walton also said Tuesday he might limit testimony from Clemens' teammates, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Andy Pettitte, Chuck Knoblauch and Mike Stanton were expected to testify that they received steroid injections from McNamee.

"The jury may say, 'If they all knew, why didn't Mr. Clemens know?'" said the judge, but he did not rule on the question and will revisit the issue. Clemens says he believed he was getting vitamin injections.