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SALT LAKE CITY -- The defense attorney in a well-publicized assault case is once again asking for the charges to be dropped. He added a supplemental brief to the original request because his client was promised immunity.
"What I've asked the court to do is dismiss the prosecution," attorney Chad Steur told KSL Newsradio Friday.
Steur said prosecutors at the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office made a promise to his client, Ricky Peace, saying they would not file felony charges in the beating of DJ Bell and Daniel Fair on July 4, 2008 in exchange for testimony in their kidnapping case against Bell.
"My client was given an express promise," Steur said. This week, investigators testified they heard a verbal agreement between Peace and Assistant District Attorney Tupakk Renteria.
"Mr. Renteria also testified that the promises were made prior to trial," Steur said.
A spokesman for the district attorney's office said state statute requires any immunity deal to be officially on the record or in writing. The spokesman said an investigation found no such letter exists. [CLICK HERE to read a the report of the investigation]
Bell was acquitted of kidnapping in 2009.
E-mail: pnelson@ksl.com
