Pellicano Trial: Waiting for Ovitz and Pellicano's Testimony

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Although former super agent Michael Ovitz was listed as a possible witness for today, the glacial pace of the trial kept him from taking the stand today. Instead, the jury was treated to a robotic LAPD spokesperson who droned on endlessly about how former Sgt. Mark Arneson violated LAPD policy by allegedly providing Anthony Pellicano with confidential court documents. With characteristic over-kill, Prosecutor Dan Saunders took the witness through the actual document signed by LAPD employees about respecting the confidentiality of their data bases. By the time Mr. Saunders got around to asking the expert to read yet another paragraph of Mr. Arneson's oath to respect the confidentiality of the data bases, even the Judge had enough. She practically begged Mr. Saunders to move on--much to the relief of everyone in the courtroom.

Mr. Hummel, in a mercifully brief cross, asked a question designed to point out that anyone who had Mr. Arneson's code, including but not limited to Pellicano, could have gotten into that computer base. After all, this expert actually has a job checking to see who's used the data bases without the appropriate authorization.

Testimony today was so dry that the government should have been fined for boring the jury to death and Mona Soo Hoo should also have to shoulder some of the blame for her inarticulate cross.

Next up tomorrow: The government's big finish-Michael Ovitz, Anita Busch, Bernie Weinraub and a few witnesses talking about Pellicano's investigation of Sly Stallone.

Also on tap for the coming weeks, Pellicano takes the stand in his own defense, committing the final act in his suicidal plan.

Read all the coverage from inside the Pellicano courtroom