To try to prove their claim, Mr. Kelly's lawyers have turned up the heat on prosecutors by subpoenaing them to testify concerning the defense assertions of misconduct.

He also rejected defense assertions that evidence helpful to Mr. Simpson's case had been lost because of police bungling.

In contentious questioning, the prosecutor, Kenneth Taub, has appeared skeptical of the defense assertions that the new evidence will clear Lamont Branch.

The prosecutors have consistently rejected defense assertions that the second man in the bathroom was another officer, Thomas Wiese.

The appeals court rejected defense assertions that the trial had been tainted by publicity and that Mr. Bakker was denied effective counsel.

She said the jury believed the defense assertion that the police fired first and that Davis was defending himself.

Lawyers watching the case have said the defense assertion that prospective jurors who know about the community notification law should be barred has emerged as a central legal issue.

Mr. Stanton gave short shrift to the defense assertion that the advisers were civil rights leaders who needed the freedom to speak openly about official misdeeds.

But he has been reported by the Israeli press and the state-owned radio as having new evidence of his own to counter the defense assertions.

But Judge Coar rejected the defense assertions.