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Prosecutors challenge Clemens’ wife in closing

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Former Major League Baseball pitcher Roger Clemens, left, gestures as he leaves Federal Court in Washington with sons, Kacy, center back, and Kody, right, Tuesday, June 12, 2012. Clemens' fate is in the hands of a jury that will decide if the former pitch

Former Major League Baseball pitcher Roger Clemens, left, gestures as he leaves Federal Court in Washington with sons, Kacy, center back, and Kody, right, Tuesday, June 12, 2012. Clemens’ fate is in the hands of a jury that will decide if the former pitcher lied about performance-enhancing substances. The panel of eight women and four men began deliberations after a day of closing arguments in the ninth week of the trial.

Manuel Balce Ceneta, Associated Press

WASHINGTON — In their final attempt to convince jurors that Roger Clemens lied to Congress, prosecutors basically called his wife a liar, too.

Prosecutor Courtney Saleski used closing arguments to challenge Debbie Clemens' version of how and when she got a shot of human growth hormone — just before the case went to the jury.

Debbie Clemens testified last week that she received a shot of HGH from her husband's then-strength coach, Brian McNamee, without Roger Clemens' knowledge. The government claims Roger Clemens was present for the shot.

Jurors, who met for only 15 minutes Tuesday, resume deliberations Wednesday afternoon.

Clemens, a seven-time Cy Young Award winning pitcher, is charged with perjury, making false statements and obstructing Congress when he denied under oath in 2008 that he took steroids or HGH.