Death of defendant delays Ala. gambling retrial

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Jury selection for the retrial in Alabama's gambling corruption case starts Monday after a one-week delay caused by the death of one of the defendants.

Former legislative bill writer Ray Crosby was found dead in his Montgomery home Jan. 29. Jury selection was supposed to start the next morning, but U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson delayed it because of the death.

Some former state and federal judges predict that Thompson won't allow comments about whether stress from the case contributed to his death.

An autopsy report listed Crosby's death as natural from hypertensive cardiovascular disease.

Six defendants are scheduled for retrial on bribery and conspiracy charges. Their first trial ended in August with no convictions and the jury unable to decide 33 counts.