Closing arguments begin in Pellicano trial

LOS ANGELES, April 29 (UPI) -- Closing arguments began Tuesday in the wiretapping trial of Anthony Pellicano, the Hollywood private eye accused of illegal bugging.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Saunders told a Los Angeles jury that prosecutors had proved Pellicano used thuggish techniques in his business, Daily Variety reported.

"Tires get slashed, computers get hacked, houses get broken into," Saunders said. "And of course, people's phones get wiretapped."

On Monday, U.S. District Judge Dale Fischer denied a motion for a mistrial for one defendant, former Los Angeles Police Sgt. Mark Arneson. Arneson's attorney argued that prosecutors prejudiced the case against his client by bringing up allegations he lied in a bankruptcy petition, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Saunders in his closing called Arneson a "dirty cop" and said there was no evidence of his claim that he had been getting useful information from Pellicano. Instead, Saunders said, Arneson took money from Pellicano and "secretly worked to dismantle police cases."