End near in historic, five-month Kilpatrick corruption trial

DETROIT (WXYZ) - After five months and dozens of witnesses and experts, the Kwame Kilpatrick corruption trial is coming to a close.

Wednesday is expected to be the final day of testimony after proceedings were cut short Tuesday due to scheduling issues.

"One of our witnesses was going to be coming back for re-direct, and he's ill. So we'll have to gage and figure out what's going on with that," said Kwame Kilpatrick's lawyer, Jim Thomas.

Defense witness CPA Gary Leeman had been expected to resume his testimony about Kilpatrick's finances and the Kilpatrick Civic Fund.

"There are other witnesses that have been asked to come in from out of town, and it's been a logistical issue. We don't have the staff to make sure everything is coordinated as it should," said Thomas.

Thomas says there's nothing unusual about all of the courtroom delays that have been taking place as both sides near the end of the historic five month trial.

"We have a lot of end of trial issues. Jury instructions are massive in this case, we've been working on them, we're going to back and do that now, so it's not like time's being wasted here," said Thomas.

Both sides are disagreeing on which set of instructions to use - and they've each filed different versions with the court of the 75 page packets that the judge will read to the jury before deliberations.

"We fight for our instructions and they fight for their instructions, and then the judge has to make the ultimate decision on that, but they are important," said Bobby Ferguson's lawyer, Mike Rataj.

Despite the delay, the judge told the jury they are still on track to wrap up Wednesday.

On Friday, attorneys from both sides will make procedural arguments, then on Monday the judge will read jury instructions which will be followed by closing arguments.

Assistant US attorney Michael Bullota will go first, followed by the defense. Closing statements could last through Wednesday.