Prosecutors push to open text messages

DETROIT, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- Prosecutors say they want a judge in Detroit to unseal text messages that allegedly prove former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's former top aide lied under oath.

Prosecutors allege Christine Beatty lied to conceal her sexual affair with Kilpatrick and their firing of a top police police official, The Detroit News reported Thursday.

In hearings Wednesday before Wayne Circuit Judge Timothy Kenny, defense lawyers argued the estimated 200 text messages are private communication and should remain under seal while prosecutors argued Beatty and Kilpatrick were aware of a city policy that all communication on city-owned text pagers is public.

Beatty's trial is set to begin Jan. 5. Kilpatick resigned from office last month after pleading guilty to obstruction of justice and admitting he lied during testimony last year in a police whistle-blower lawsuit, the News reported.

Kilpatrick is expected to be sentenced Oct. 28 to four months in jail.