Hornsby hid the relationship from his staff and school board members who approved the deals, Berman said, and when Owens' role came to light, denied that she had been involved. Berman told jurors that, behind the scenes, Hornsby ordered Owens, his business partner Cynthia Joffrion and school district staff members to destroy e-mails and other records that might have led investigators to the collusion.
Unbeknownst to Hornsby, a school district employee kept backup tapes of hundreds of e-mails, giving prosecutors a rich trove of evidence.
But Bonsib, the defense lawyer, made much of the fact that the government did not call Joffrion - who became an FBI informant in the case - to the stand, an omission that he suggested raised questions. Also, Bonsib was dismissive of Owens' testimony, calling her a "schemer" and "the only person who can suggest anything untoward on the part of Dr. Hornsby."
