In a very brief hearing on Tuesday, Barry Bonds pled not guilty for the fourth time on the steroid perjury charges. The court required Bonds to take another plea after the prosecutors reduced the number of charges filed against him. Judge Susan Illston also warned Greg Anderson, who was also present in the hearing, that he could face contempt if he continue to refuse testifying in court. Anderson is Bonds’ former personal trainer and allegedly gave the baseball slugger designer steroids.

Anderson’s lawyer told the judge that his client will not testify. Judge Illston said that the testimony of Anderson could spare other baseball players from giving testimonies. Some of the players who will be presented by the prosecution include Jason Giambi, Armando Rios, Benito Santiago, Bobby Estalella, and Marvin Benard. The judge required Anderson’s presence when the jury selection begins.

Anderson is Crucial in the Case

Many believe, including some law experts, that the testimony of Greg Anderson is the missing link in the perjury case of Barry Bonds. His testimony will put an end to the long legal battle of the government to convict the home run king. Anderson already served a jail term for his refusal to testify against his friend and he is willing to do that again. If this happens, the prosecution will just rely on other witnesses and evidences which can be easily refuted by the defense.

Evidences Not Sufficient

The defense team is not giving up because they know how to attack the prosecution’s arguments. An analysis of Michael McCann, a sports law professor in Vermont Law School, Mississippi College School of Law and Yale Law School, offered a clear insight on what will happen when the trial begins in March 27. Below are some of McCann’s assessments of the case.

Taped Conversation of Anderson and Hoskins

The judge allowed portion of the tape conversation of Anderson and Hoskins to be used as evidence. Anderson allegedly confided to Hoskins in 2003 that he gave Bonds with the designer steroid “The Clear” or also known as THT tetrahydrogestrinone. According to McCann, the defense could simply attack the quality and authenticity of the tape. The truthfulness and accuracy of the statements of Anderson and Hoskins will be questioned.

The defense could argue that even if Anderson provided the baseball slugger with “the Clear“, it does not mean Bonds used it. Another scenario that could be brought by Bonds’ lawyers is even if Bonds used the designer steroid, he may not have known what he was using since Anderson gave him several supplements.

“If Bonds’ attorneys persuasively make such an argument, a jury would likely then conclude that Bonds may have used the Clear, but not knowingly lied when telling a grand jury that he did not use steroids,” said McCann. They could also argue that the clear was not banned by the Major League Baseball at that time. Moreover, the product in question was not classified as an illegal steroid by the federal government when it was allegedly used by Bonds.

Other Witnesses

Kimberly Bell will also testify in court. The defense will definitely question the motive and objectivity of Bonds’ former girlfriend. Bell will talk about the changes he observed on Bonds when he started using steroids. The doctor of Bonds, Dr Arthur Ting is also included in the list of witnesses. The defense will try to discredit the impressions of the doctor regarding the alleged steroids use of the baseball slugger. They could use the past disciplinary action imposed on Ting by the Medical Board of California

Other baseball players who will be called in the witness stand have no direct knowledge of Bonds’ alleged doping.

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