The controversial release of the March 16, 911 emergency tape and dispatch record involving the shooting death of an Atlanta deputy and the wounding of his partner has landed a contempt of court charge against Fulton County Sheriff Jackie Barrett and added to a month of controversy surrounding pending murder trial of Muslim cleric Imam Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin, formerly known as H. Rap Brown.

Superior Court Judge Stephanie B. Manis ruled on May 31 that Sheriff Barrett violated a gag order that forbade release of evidence in the case against Imam Al-Amin, who is accused of murdering Deputy Ricky Kinchen and wounding his partner Aldranon English, according to an Atlanta Journal-Constitution article. Atlanta prosecutor Paul Howard announced in April that the state�s intended to seek the death penalty.

In the ruling, Judge Manis said the sheriff did not willfully intend to violate the order, and thus the contempt was not criminal, and without punishment. Ms. Barrett testified that the release occurred on the advice of a county attorney, and focused strictly on compliance with open records law, reports said.

Judge Manis also ruled that despite requests from both defense and prosecution, she would send the imam�s case back through the random pool for the selection of a superior court judge. Mr. Al-Amin has yet to enter a plea although has proclaimed innocence on the charges against him. His arraignment on the 13-count indictment will not take place before a judge is officially assigned to the case.

On May 17, FBI officials announced the arrest of two men they believe are tied to three bank robberies in a 22-day period. One of the robbers alleges they robbed the banks for the imam�s defense fund. However, according to a May 19 Atlanta Journal Constitution article, FBI supervisor Mark Giuliano found no evidence that Imam Al-Amin benefited from the robberies. According to the article, Ibrahim Abdul Salaam, a member of the imam�s West End mosque, said efforts to raise money for the imam�s defense had stopped, as taxpayers will now pay his legal expenses.

Mr. Al-Amin�s lawyers are attempting to exploit the 911 evidence released, as it raises the possibility of another slay suspect. So far, the imam is the only one charged in the shootings.

Dispatch excerpts reveal fellow deputies searched for a wounded gunman and surrounded an abandoned building where blood was found. The 1182 Oak Street building is five blocks from Mr. Amin�s place of business where officers said they attempted to serve the imam with a warrant. Deputy English said he shot his assailant.

According to the 911 excerpts, minutes after the shooting a man was seen bleeding and begging for a ride five blocks from the shooting scene. On May 30, defense attorney Jack Martin filed a motion seeking all police evidence concerning other persons at the crime scene. An additional search for reports about the blood and reports of anyone wounded in the West End area of Atlanta the night of March 16 are also being sought.

After the shooting, one 911 caller reported an injured man on Westview Avenue. "Caller advises perp in a vacant building on Westview bleeding begging for a ride," a dispatcher typed into the log of the shooting.

Police have not released further details about the bleeding man or the 911 caller.