Mystery Solved In Kilpatrick Corruption Trial

By M. L. Elrick
Fox 2 Investigative Reporter

Day 54 of the Kilpatrick corruption trial and a mystery has been solved.  Yesterday's testimony ended with a cliffhanger.  A key piece of evidence brought in by the defense. But would the prosecution be allowed to challenge it -- as a fake?   The judge's response to that question is yes.

The prosecution claim that Bobby and Mayor Kipatrick were scheming to get a big payday out of a major sewer disaster.  The proof, a text message from Bobby saying he had an idea how to move in.  But the defense says their evidence shows Bobby was already on the job way before that text message was sent.

This was the big disaster,  the Sterling Heights sinkhole.  Bobby Ferguson's attorney, Mike Rataj, says his client was already on the job, way before that incriminating text message was sent.  He could not have been scheming to get a job he already had. Or could he?

But EPA Special Agent, Carol Paskiewicz, dug up the original document and found some problems.  In fact,  Bobby wasn't on the job until three weeks later.  And this guy laid any questions to rest.  This is Walter Rozycki.  The guy who was on the site every day.  He told the jury in no uncertain terms Bobby wasn't' was not there.

When prosecutors put the two documents side by side it was clear, they were identical except for one thing: the date on the version the defense was using had been changed.  But if defense attorneys are worried, they did a good job hiding it.  The apparent forgery could be a major blow to Ferguson and Kilpatrick's credibility.  It could even be a turning point as prosecutors get ready to rest their case.

There was another uncomfortable development in court, this one affecting the jury.  The judge announced that their meeting room may be infested with bed bugs.  While no one likes bugs, Bernard Kilpatrick can think of something he likes even less: wire taps.