Barry Bonds Trial Focuses On Anti-Doping Expert On Day Four

The Barry Bonds trial picked up Thursday morning where it left off Wednesday afternoon, with Bonds’ former assistant Steve Hoskins on the stand undergoing cross-examination. Bonds’ lawyer spent much of his time focusing on notes from Hoskins’ interview with federal agents back in 2005, and pointing out various inconsistencies between what he said then and what he’s said since. Hoskins seems to have initially embellished the facts of what he knew, claiming, among other things, that his sister personally saw Bonds get injected by Greg Anderson.

Ruby also made a few other attempts to discredit the government’s witness, alleging that Hoskins and Kimberly Bell - another government witness, and a former mistress of Bonds’ - have a close and comfortable relationship.

Eventually, the questions were finished and Hoskins was allowed to leave the stand, although the defense asked for the right to recall him if need be. The government then called anti-doping expert Larry Bowers. Bowers is in the courtroom to talk about the development of performance enhancers and the various side-effects of steroid use. The government intends to build off his testimony by later establishing that witnesses observed many of these side-effects in Bonds over the years. These side effects include foot growth, head growth, and back acne.

That’s where we are right now in the middle of the day. The defense should get its opportunity to question Bowers sometime this afternoon.

Follow along in this StoryStream for updates, and also get more information from SB Nation Bay Area’s Barry Bonds trial coverage, for which David Fucillo will be live-blogging - and live-tweeting - from the courtroom. You can follow on Twitter @SBNBayArea.