Defense in Lehder Drug Trial Case Calls No Witnesses, Rests

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — In a surprise move, defense lawyers for reputed Colombian cocaine kingpin Carlos Lehder Rivas rested their case today without calling a single witness to testify in his federal drug smuggling trial.

Defense attorney Edward Shohat made the announcement in Jacksonville federal court after U.S. District Judge Howell Melton refused a defense request for a 60-day delay to allow it time to examine thousands of documents introduced in the 22-week trial.

“Your honor, the defendant Lehder rests,” Shohat told the judge.

A lawyer for Lehder’s co-defendant, Jack Carlton Reed, also said he would call no witnesses.

The judge is expected to give both sides several days to prepare closing arguments.

Lehder, 38, allegedly one of the leaders of the violent Medellin Cartel, is accused of smuggling 3.3 tons of cocaine into the United States from his private island of Norman’s Cay in the Bahamas.

Shohat’s move came as a surprise. As late as last week, he had estimated the defense would take two weeks.

Assistant U.S. Atty. Ernst Mueller said he could not comment on the decision itself, but added, “you could honestly say I looked surprised and stunned.”

Much of the testimony in the Lehder trial has come from convicted drug smugglers granted immunity from prosecution.

Lehder was captured in February, 1987, in a shoot-out with Colombian forces and was extradited to the United States to stand trial. Reed, his co-defendant, is charged with one count of cocaine conspiracy.