By Alabama Public Radio
Birmingham, AL – A former HealthSouth finance chief testified Tuesday that former C-E-O Richard Scrushy did direct him to overstate company earnings. Bill Owens said in testimony today that it was "very important" to Scrushy that HealthSouth meet Wall Street earnings estimates. Owens also said Scrushy told him and another HealthSouth C-E-O- to "fix the numbers" when the earnings fell short, and he named other executives he said helped with the scheme. Owens is the man who worked with the F-B-I to secretly record conversations with Scrushy. Prosecutors say the recordings prove Scrushy's guilt. The defense, in turn, says the recordings prove Scrushy's innocence.