Source: Associated Press
Defence seeks delay in trial of personal physician of late pro wrestler Benoit
By Harry R. Weber, The Associated Press
ATLANTA – A defence lawyer is seeking a delay in the trial of the personal physician of the late Canadian pro wrestler Chris Benoit.
Dr. Phil Astin is charged with overprescribing medication in a case unrelated to Benoit’s death. Astin’s lawyer, Natasha Silas, filed a motion Friday seeking to delay the trial for an unspecified period, saying she needs more time to prepare. There was no immediate ruling on the request.
Authorities say Benoit, 40, strangled his wife with a cord, used a choke hold to strangle his son and hanged himself on a piece of exercise equipment the weekend of June 22 in their Fayetteville, Ga., home.
Anabolic steroid abuse has been linked to the Benoit case, since tests showed Benoit had roughly 10 times the normal level of testosterone in his system.
Astin has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of improperly prescribing painkillers and other drugs to two patients other than Benoit.
Prosecutors have said repeatedly they plan more charges against Astin, but as of Monday they had not filed a superseding indictment.
The charges against Astin grew out of a probe into last year’s killings at the Benoit home.
Authorities have said Astin prescribed a 10-month supply of anabolic steroids to Benoit every three to four weeks for a year leading up to the killings.
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