DETROIT -- A federal judge may delay the perjury trial of Sacramento Kings All-Star Chris Webber to allow defense attorneys to review witness statements.

Webber, his father, Mayce Webber Jr., and aunt Charlene Johnson face obstruction of justice and perjury charges for allegedly lying about the family's dealings with former University of Michigan booster Ed Martin.

Martin is awaiting sentencing for running an illegal gambling ring at local auto plants. He claimed he gave $616,000 to Webber and three other Wolverines players while they were amateurs.

Martin, who pleaded guilty to illegal gambling, said he gave Webber and his family $280,000. Webber said he received only pocket money from Martin.

U.S. District Judge Nancy G. Edmunds said Tuesday that she might be forced to suspend the trial after it begins July 8 if the U.S. attorney's office didn't turn over witness statements to the defense in a timely fashion, The Detroit News reported Wednesday.

At the hearing, the U.S. attorney's office offered its third position on when it would turn over witness statements to the defense.

In December, the government said it would turn over the witness statements before the trial. Then, in a Jan. 9 letter to Edmunds, Corbett said the government would invoke its right to withhold the statements until after the witnesses testified.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Corbett, head of the organized crime strike force in Detroit, said Tuesday the government would give the statements to the defense after opening statements.

Edmunds encouraged Corbett to rethink that position.