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Judge Refuses To Quit Bell Corruption Case

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A judge has refused to remove himself from a preliminary hearing to determine if there is enough evidence for a former city manager to stand trial on corruption charges in the Southern California suburb of Bell.

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KNX 1070's John Brooks Reports

Superior Court Judge Henry J. Hall denied Tuesday's request by defendant Robert Rizzo, who had questioned in court papers whether he could get an impartial hearing from Hall.

The hearing, expected to last at least a week, then got under way, with the first of what are expected to be six prosecution witnesses testifying.

The first witness, longtime Bell resident Roger Ramirez, says he was provided false information when he filed a public records request demanding to know Rizzo's salary.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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