Pivotal Barry Bonds evidentiary hearing begins

SAN FRANCISCO — A pivotal hearing is under way to determine what evidence will be admitted during Barry Bonds' perjury trial in March.

The results of Friday's hearing in San Francisco federal court and a similar hearing next month will dramatically shape the trial.

U.S. District Judge Susan Illston will decide whether prosecutors can show the jury a trove of evidence connected to Bonds' personal trainer. They say it shows the slugger knowingly took steroids even though he told a grand jury he didn't.

But because trainer Greg Anderson is refusing to testify against Bonds, the judge has already ruled that some of the evidence tied to Anderson is off-limits.

His legal team is arguing for the exclusion of other evidence, including an order barring prosecutors from calling several retired baseball players and current player Jason Giambi.