Martha demands answers on leak

MARTHA Stewart is demanding an investigation into how details of her indictment were leaked before a US grand jury announced the charges.

An investigation could delay her trial over the suspect sale of shares.

Stewart, America's queen of home-making, is accused of lying about why she sold about 4000 shares in ImClone, a company formerly run by her friend Sam Waksal.

Before her 4 June indictment the media reported correctly that she would be charged with obstruction of justice and conspiracy, but not with insider trading. The reports quoted anonymous sources, but Stewart's lawyers claim that the information must have come from within a government agency.

'Lots of people touched this case within the government,' said Robert Morvillo, Stewart's lawyer. He argues that the leaks could have influenced the grand jury's deliberations.

However, prosecutor Michael Schachter claims that much of the information originated from the defence lawyers. He said that a day before the indictment, the defence issued a Press release saying they expected an indictment in the near future.

US District Judge Miriam Goldman Cedarbaum is considering Stewart's demand.