This is an interesting twist to the whole gay marriage debate.
Marital Privilege Sought to Exclude Gay Partner as Witness
Man Fighting Charges He Helped Steal From School System Says Law Should Be Gender-Neutral
Associated Press
Saturday, November 26, 2005; Page A09
NEW YORK, Nov. 25 — A gay man charged with helping his lover loot a wealthy school district has asked a judge to rule that state law protecting spouses from having to testify against each other also applies to same-sex partners.
Stephen Signorelli, fighting charges that he stole at least $219,000 from the Roslyn, N.Y., school district, is seeking to bar testimony by his longtime companion, Frank Tassone, the district’s former superintendent.
Auditors say that in all, $11.2 million was taken from the Long Island district. It is considered among the largest thefts from a U.S. school system.
Tassone pleaded guilty this year to stealing $1 million between 1996 and 2002. As part of his plea deal, he agreed to testify against other defendants in the case, which meant he might have to take the stand in Signorelli’s trial.
