Snipes's lawyers ask for new trial

OCALA, Fla., Nov. 15 (UPI) -- Wesley Snipes's attorneys appeared at a federal courthouse in Florida Monday to request that the film star be given a new trial in his tax case.

The actor's 2008 conviction and three-year prison sentence for failure to file tax returns or pay federal income taxes were upheld by an appellate court last July.

Senior U.S. District Judge William Terrell Hodges Monday reserved ruling on Snipes's request for a new trial because of alleged jury misconduct, Ocala.com reported. The 48-year-old Florida native's lawyers claim some jury members harbored pretrial bias against Snipes.

The star of the "Blade" trilogy, "U.S. Marshals" and "Too Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar" has remained free on bond until motions in the matter have been heard.

Ocala.com said Snipes did not attend Monday's hearing.