Thursday, April 27, 2006

All scheduled hearings in Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor 's felony assault case have been postponed, including one set to take place yesterday, and his trial date of May 8 likely will be pushed back as well, according to members of the defense and prosecution. There will be a new judge and lead prosecutor, with the case recently reassigned to both parties, who will require additional time to prepare.

Ed Griffith , a spokesperson for the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office, said that Criminal Court Judge Leonard Glick will be taking over for Judge Mary Barzee , who had been handling Taylor's case since its original trial date last September but will be handling civil cases after this week.

Glick is a former assistant state attorney.

Mike Grieco , the former lead prosecutor in the case, recently withdrew from Taylor's trial after the defense team objected to postings on his Web site, and Richard Sharpstein , one of Taylor's attorneys, said he has met with the new prosecutor, Abe Laeser . Sharpstein said Taylor's defense team is allowing Laeser ample time to review all materials and has temporarily withdrawn motions to dismiss the case "out of respect to Abe." However, Sharpstein said that those motions could be refiled should Laeser opt to pursue the case and not dismiss it himself.

Sharpstein and Griffith said they expected the trial to be delayed before May 8 as a procedural matter given the influx of new personnel in the case, but as of now there are no new dates set for hearings or the trial.

Taylor was arrested in the Miami area last June and charged with three felony counts of assault wit h a deadly weapon -- each of which could carry a three-year mandatory minimum sentence -- as well as a count of battery. The Redskins chose Taylor fifth overall in the 2004 draft, and the Florida native attended the University of Miami.

-- Jason La Canfora