A Silent Witness.

Federal prosecutors have long believed they had Chris Webber cold. From the moment he appeared before a grand jury in August 2000, the U.S. government was convinced he had lied about gifts and money from infamous University of Michigan booster Ed Martin. Martin's testimony was "vital" to the government's case against Webber, according to Martin's lawyer, Bill Mitchell III. Prosecutors and Webber's attorneys had no comment on how their cases might be affected by the death of Martin, who pleaded guilty, in May 2002, to conspiracy to launder money and was awaiting sentencing. Lately Martin had been sick and had little money, a far cry from the man who once cruised Detroit, Michigan in a Mercedes, dressed in a fur coat, handing out pastries and shoes to kids, Webber among them.