Stewart defense poised to cross-examine Faneuil

0 Comments | USA TODAY, February, 2004 | by Greg Farrell

NEW YORK -- The trial of Martha Stewart and her former Merrill Lynch stockbroker is expected to reach a climax this morning, when Stewart's lead attorney, Robert Morvillo, cross-examines the government's key witness.

Whether Morvillo can undermine the credibility of the government's witness, Douglas Faneuil, could determine the outcome of the trial. If Morvillo can't deliver a knockout punch, Stewart might have to testify on her own behalf.

Stewart and her former Merrill Lynch broker, Peter Bacanovic, are charged with nine criminal counts, most of which involve an alleged conspiracy to cover up the reasons for Stewart's sale of nearly 4,000 shares of ImClone stock on Dec. 27, 2001, the day before bad news sent the stock plummeting.

The first week of testimony...