by KYW's Tony Hanson
A man charged with stealing newsstands -- five of them in one day in April of 2006 -- is on trial in a Philadelphia courtroom. The defense doesn’t deny he took them with the help of a crane.
Fatai King, 44 (right), rented a crane and then took and relocated five newsstands; three were taken from center city.
The defense contends that King, who has pleaded not guilty, believes he had permission from the city’s Department of Licenses and Inspections to move them. He claims the newsstands were abandoned.
But the owners say they weren’t abandoned, and a former L&I employee has testified she met with King many times. She described him as "overbearing but not pesty," and she denies ever giving him permission to move the newsstands.
The defense begins on Wednesday, and King is expected to testify in his own behalf.
Police have recovered all five of the newsstands.
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