Judge won't delay Kwame Kilpatrick's trial

DETROIT, May 22 (UPI) -- A federal judge says she will not postpone former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's corruption trial.

U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds said Monday that after years of investigation it is time to bring the matter to a close, The Detroit News reported. She rejected arguments from defense lawyers that they need more time to sift the evidence.

The trial is now scheduled to begin Sept. 6.

"This case demands closure and the public has the right to see the matter move forward," Edmunds said.

Kilpatrick was first indicted on federal tax and fraud charges in June 2010. Six months later, another indictment charged Kilpatrick, his father, Bernard, and two other people with racketeering conspiracy.

John Shea, who represents Bernard Kilpatrick, said the evidence keeps pouring in. Prosecutors recently turned over 3,000 pages of evidence, including 36,000 e-mails from a defendant's computer.

"This is far beyond anything we've had to deal with before. I've not had a day off in months," Shea told Edmunds. "I'm not asking for sympathy. It is very difficult for the defense to synthesize and prepare for trial."