Prosecution charges corruption in opening statements

ATLANTA - Attorneys have made opening statements in the trial of a former Atlanta official. <br> <br> The prosecution in the perjury and obstruction case said Tuesday morning the former commissioner of administrative services -- 51-year-old Herbert McCall -- lied about his involvement in contracting for computer software and about a trip to Memphis, Tennessee, to pitch a deal on behalf of another company. While commissioner, McCall had influence over most of the city&#39;s contracts. <br> <br> Assistant U.S. Attorney Sally Yates told jurors McCall made false statements about a deal to buy Oracle software for Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport. <br> <br> She said McCall stalled the deal in order to include another company -- Spectronics -- because that company had been paying bribes to former top city officials. <br> <br> McCall&#39;s attorneys said he&#39;s being falsely grouped with the eight other former Atlanta officials and contractors who&#39;ve pleaded guilty to corruption charges. Defense attorney Jerry Froelich asked for a mistrial, but U.S. District Court Judge Richard Story denied the motion. <br> <br> McCall&#39;s also accused of lying to a grand jury about the trip he made to Memphis. Prosecutors say two city contractors paid McCall $3,000 to help expand their businesses to Memphis.