Prosecutors made their closing arguments in the fraud trial of ex-HealthSouth CEO Robert Scrushy, who stands accused of leading a massive conspiracy to inflate the company's earnings. Prosecutors said Scrushy was motivated by greed, ego and a desire to please Wall Street in directing the $2.7 billion accounting fraud. Defense attorney Jim Parkman responded by blaming HealthSouth executive William Owens for the conspiracy, calling him "a big rat." Scrushy has been preaching at African-American churches in what some see as an attempt to ingratiate himself with a largely African-American jury.
For more on the Scrushy trial:
- see this story from The New York Times