Montana Sports: AP-MT-MSUAthletes-Killi

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^AP-MT--MSU Athletes-Killing,0178<

     
^Judge decides to release evidence from Wright homicide case<
^

     BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) _ A judge has ruled that transcripts of
police interviews of a former Montana State football player who
struck a plea deal in a murder case can be made public.

     District Judge Mike Salvagni made the ruling Wednesday in the
case of John Lebrum.

     Lebrum and former MSU basketball player Branden Miller were
charged with murder and kidnapping for the 2006 shooting death of
26-year-old Jason Wright.

     Miller pleaded guilty in January to deliberate homicide and
tampering with evidence. After Miller‘s plea, Gallatin County
Attorney Marty Lambert offered Lebrum a plea bargain. He said the
physical evidence in the case was consistent with the version of
events Lebrum had told investigators from the beginning.

     Lebrum agreed to the deal and in February pleaded guilty to
helping Miller rob Wright. The murder and kidnapping charges, as
well as a federal cocaine charge, were dropped.

     Salvagni‘s order says public disclosure of the police
transcripts doesn‘t prejudice Lebrum‘s case because he has pleaded
guilty.

     ^___=

     Information from: Bozeman Daily Chronicle,
http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com

     

     (Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

     AP-NY-04-04-08 0531EDT<