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Indiana deputy prosecutor disciplined for mocking attorney

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - A Marion County deputy prosecutor has been disciplined for mocking a public defender during a trial.

Deputy prosecutor Peter Beyel was suspended and later placed on probation and Prosecutor Terry Curry personally called attorney Mark Nicholson to apologize for the incident.

Nicholson says he was cross-examining a witness in a DUI case on Jan. 18 in Indianapolis when Beyel projected evidence onto a video screen for the judge and jury to see.

Nicholson says a Skype message apparently written by Beyel appeared on the screen calling him by a profane and derogatory term. Nicholson says when he noted the message, Beyel tapped his computer, again revealing the Skype message to the courtroom.

Nicholson tells The Indianapolis Star the incident was "a travesty" and prompted the judge to declare a mistrial.

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Information from: The Indianapolis Star, http://www.indystar.com

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