Objections to start of next Guldi trial

Nothing is easy in the criminal cases against former Suffolk Legis. George Guldi -- not even setting a trial date.

Guldi, who's already serving 4 to 12 years for insurance fraud, faces two more trials on mortgage fraud charges. When Suffolk County Court Judge James F.X. Doyle Tuesday set jury selection in the next case to begin June 21, both Guldi and the attorney for his co-defendant, Brandon Lisi, objected.

"I cannot possibly be ready to try this case in less than two months," said Randy Zelin, Lisi's attorney.

He said he hadn't had time to review six boxes of documents he got recently from prosecutors and he was also preparing for a similar case against Lisi in federal court in Manhattan. "Your honor is putting me in an impossible box."

Prosecutor Thalia Stavrides said that "Mr. Zelin has had two years to get ready for trial."

Guldi, who is representing himself, said he also could not be ready for trial in the case in which he and Lisi are accused of running a large mortgage fraud ring involving the sale of four properties.

"As an incarcerated defendant, I do not have access to my office, my records," he said.

SEE PHOTOSGeorge Guldi

Doyle reminded Guldi that he warned him last week not to use his imprisonment as an excuse for not being ready.

"This case is 640 days old," Doyle said, noting that judges are encouraged to dispose of cases in 180 days. Doyle acidly invited Zelin to find another judge who would delay the trial.

Zelin said he would consider it.