Sue Hartigan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: LOS ANGELES, April 30 (UPI) _ A second member of the Billionaire Boys Club may face a new trial after a federal judge overturned his conviction for the 1984 murder of a wealthy Iranian businessman. The reversal of 36-year-old Arben Dosti's conviction and life sentence comes two months after an appellate court freed his co- defendent, Reza Eslaminia. The appeals panel unanimously ruled in February that the jury may have been prejudiced against the two men after hearing a tape recording that was not introduced as evidence at the trial. During its deliberations, the jury was given a tape of a police interview with Eslaminia. The panel inadvertantly listened to the reverse side of the tape, which contained a statement by Eslaminia's brother, Ali, that may have discredited one of the main defense witnesses. Dosti and Eslaminia were convicted in 1988 for the kidnap and murder of Eslaminia's father, Hedayat, in what prosecutors believe was an extortion plot to bolster the Billionaire Boys Club's failing finances. An October trial has been scheduled for Eslaminia in San Mateo County. He is free on bail. Club founder Joe Hunt was also accused of killing 56-year-old Hedayat Eslaminia, but the charges were dropped after a jury deadlocked over conviction. Hunt remains behind bars after his 1987 conviction of murdering 42- year-old Ron Levin over a commodities swindle. Levin's body was never found and Hunt claimed he faked his own death. Hunt formed the investment and social club in 1983 with the sons of wealthy Southern California families, who shared a penchant for fast living and get-rich-quick schemes. A year later the club was broke. -- Two rules in life: 1. Don't tell people everything you know. 2. Subscribe/Unsubscribe, email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the body of the message enter: subscribe/unsubscribe law-issues
