Separate Trial For Ex-N.O. Cop In Shootings

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A federal judge has agreed to order a separate trial for one of six current or former New Orleans police officers charged in an alleged plot to cover up deadly shootings of unarmed residents in Hurricane Katrina's aftermath.

U.S. District Judge Kurt Engelhardt on Wednesday scheduled a trial for

to start on September 26th. A trial for the other five defendants is set to begin in June and last several weeks.

Dugue argued his case needed to be tried separately because prosecutors plan to offer as evidence statements he made during an FBI interview that could incriminate the other defendants. Prosecutors agreed Dugue's case should be severed from the others'.