Actor WESLEY SNIPES' federal tax-evasion trial will go ahead next month (Jan08) in Florida, despite objections by his lawyers.

Snipes, 45, is due to stand trial on charges he fraudulently claimed tax refunds of almost $12 million (£6 million) in 1996 and 1997. He is also accused of failing to file tax returns from 1999 to 2004.

But his lawyers argued the star cannot get a fair trial in the city of Ocala and said he had the right to a trial in New York - the city he was living in when the alleged offences occurred.

However, during a hearing on Monday (24Dec07), U.S. District Judge William T. Hodges ordered for the case to go ahead as scheduled.