Roger Clemens evidence in beer can came from other players (USA TODAY)

• Comments
• 
  
• 
  

• 
• 
• 

By Seth Livingstone, USA TODAY

Updated 15m ago

WASHINGTON – Prosecutors in the Roger Clemens perjury trial suffered a potentially damaging blow Friday morning when their prime witness, Brian McNamee, testified that some physical evidence, contained in a crumpled beer can, came from players other than Clemens.

CAPTION

By Haraz N. Ghanbari, AP

Earlier on Friday, lawyers from both sides were warned that the case could continue into July.
McNamee, Clemens' personal strength coach, said the beer can as well as HGH-related items in the can came from one of two ballplayers who injected themselves, not Clemens.
McNamee said Clemens did not use an orange-tipped needle used to administer HGH. McNamee, who says he injected Clemens with steroids on multiple occasions in 1998, 2000 and 2001, previously testified that Clemens did not use human growth hormone in 2001.
Asked if the cotton balls in the can were used on Clemens, McNamee replied: "Not for certain." Asked if a blue-tipped needle, the type used to administer steroids, was used on Clemens, McNamee replied: "Might have."
McNamee said he collected the medical waste, stuffed it in a Miller Lite can, then crumpled the can to prevent the contents from spilling out in August, 2001.
At minimum, defense attorney Rusty Hardin – in advance of the government calling DNA experts to the stand -- was seeking on Friday to convince the jury that evidence in the can was tainted.
McNamee testified that some of the medical waste in evidence was only representative of materials used by Clemens, not necessarily the actual items. Asked by Hardin: "Did you use that needle on Mr. Clemens that day?" McNamee replied: "I might have."
Hardin began Friday by asking McNamee why a player of Clemens' status would go to someone without significant medical experience to be administered any shot.
"That's sort of like a pilot saying he's had two beers and he's ready to go," Hardin said.
Later, McNamee testified that Clemens gave him a bag full of ampoules containing steroids at the end of the 2002 season because Clemens could not take them through airport security back to Houston. McNamee said he placed the steroids in storage at his Long Island home along with other evidence he'd collected.
Before the jury was seated on Friday, Judge Reggie Walton urged attorneys to wrap up the trial by June 8. Walton said a series of his previous commitments, including a trip to New Orleans, could force him to recess the trial until July if it wasn't over by June 8.