DATE= 10/31/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-221995
TITLE=C-I-A SHOOTER TRIAL (L)
BYLINE=JIM MALONE
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
/// SUITABLE FOR SUNDAY-MONDAY SHOWS ///
INTRO: THE PAKISTANI NATIONAL ACCUSED OF KILLING TWO PEOPLE AND
WOUNDING THREE OTHERS OUTSIDE C-I-A HEADQUARTERS IN VIRGINIA IN
1993 GOES ON TRIAL FOR MURDER MONDAY. THE ALLEGED GUNMAN, MIR
AMAL KASI, COULD FACE THE DEATH PENALTY IF CONVICTED IN THE CASE.
V-O-A CORRESPONDENT JIM MALONE HAS DETAILS.
TEXT: MIR AMAL KASI STANDS ACCUSED OF KILLING TWO PEOPLE AND
WOUNDING THREE OTHERS AS HE ALLEGEDLY FIRED BURST AFTER BURST
FROM AN AK-47 ASSAULT RIFLE OUTSIDE C-I-A HEADQUARTERS IN
LANGLEY, VIRGINIA, ON JANUARY 25, 1993.
ALL BUT ONE OF THOSE SHOT WERE C-I-A EMPLOYEES. ALL OF THE
VICTIMS WERE SHOT IN THEIR CARS AS THEY WAITED FOR A TRAFFIC
LIGHT TO CHANGE IN FRONT OF C-I-A HEADQUARTERS.
MR. KASI WAS FORMALLY KNOWN AS MIR AMAL KANSI. HE WAS ARRESTED BY
F-B-I AGENTS THIS PAST JUNE IN PAKISTAN. PROSECUTORS SAY HE
SIGNED A STATEMENT ADMITTING TO THE C-I-A KILLINGS AS MIR AMAL
KASI AND THAT IS THE NAME THAT APPEARS IN THE FORMAL INDICTMENT.
THE JUDGE IN THE CASE, J. HOWE BROWN, HAS REFUSED REQUESTS FROM
MR. KASI'S DEFENSE TEAM TO SUPPRESS THE STATEMENT OF CONFESSION.
THE JUDGE HAS ALSO DENIED A DEFENSE REQUEST THAT THE MURDER TRIAL
BE MOVED OUT OF VIRGINIA BECAUSE INTENSE LOCAL NEWS MEDIA
COVERAGE IS MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR MR. KASI TO GET A FAIR TRIAL.
HOWEVER, THE JUDGE DID GRANT ONE DEFENSE REQUEST. JUDGE BROWN
SAYS PROSECUTORS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO REFER TO MR. KASI AS A
TERRORIST, SAYING THERE IS NO EVIDENCE LINKING THE SUSPECT TO ANY
TERRORIST GROUPS.
IF CONVICTED, MR. KASI COULD FACE THE DEATH PENALTY. UNDER
VIRGINIA STATE LAW, IT IS UP TO THE PROSECUTION TO SHOW THAT THE
CRIME WAS PARTICULARLY BRUTAL AND DESERVING OF CAPITAL
PUNISHMENT. PROSECUTOR ROBERT HORAN SAYS HE INTENDS TO DESCRIBE
HOW MR. KASI ALLEGEDLY RETURNED TO ONE OF HIS WOUNDED VICTIMS AND
FIRED THREE ADDITIONAL SHOTS, KILLING THE MAN INSTANTLY.
THE MURDER TRIAL WILL BE HELD IN FAIRFAX COUNTY, VIRGINIA, JUST
OUTSIDE WASHINGTON. (SIGNED)
NEB/JBM/EH
31-Oct-97 11:54 AM EST (1654 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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