Martha Stewart Asks To Start Prison Sentence As Soon As Possible

by Glen Shapiro, LawAndTax-News.com, New York

17 September 2004

Lifestyle guru Martha Stewart revealed at a press conference on Wednesday that she has asked to start her prison sentence as soon as possible, despite maintaining that she is innocent of the charges levelled against her.

In July, Stewart was sentenced to five months in prison and a further five months under house arrest after being found guilty of conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and making false statements in relation to her decision in 2001 to sell shares in ImClone Systems Inc. on the advice of her stockbroker, Peter Bacanovic, shortly before they plummeted in value.

Her attorneys are still reportedly planning to challenge her conviction in the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals on the grounds of several pretrial and trial evidentiary rulings by the presiding judge, perjury allegations levelled at government ink expert Lawrence Stewart, and suggestions that one of the jurors at the trial had lied in order to obtain his place on the jury and convict Stewart.

Speaking to reporters, the former head of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia explained that:

"While I and my attorneys firmly believe in the strength of (the) appeal, recent delays and extensions have now made it abundently clear that my appeal will not be heard until sometime next year. So I have decided to serve my sentence now."

Shares in Martha Stewart Living were boosted by the announcement, according to Reuters.

Recommended