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DATE=  11/12/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-222573
TITLE=KASI SENTENCE (L UPDATE)
BYLINE=JIM MALONE
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
// EDS: THIS CHANGES ONLY THE INTRO IN THE PREVIOUS, 2-222556 //
INTRO:  A SENTENCING HEARING HAS CONCLUDED FOR THE DAY 
(WEDNESDAY) IN VIRGINIA IN THE CASE OF A PAKISTANI MAN CONVICTED 
OF MURDER IN A SHOOTING SPREE OUTSIDE C-I-A HEADQUARTERS FOUR 
YEARS AGO.  THE JUDGE IN THE CASE SEQUESTERED THE JURORS FOR 
THEIR OWN SAFETY AFTER FOUR AMERICANS WERE SHOT TO DEATH IN 
PAKISTAN. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT JIM MALONE IS MONITORING THE CASE 
OF MIR AMAL KASI.
TEXT:   KASI'S DEFENSE TEAM BROUGHT IN TWO MEDICAL EXPERTS 
WEDNESDAY WHO TESTIFIED THAT THE CONVICTED C-I-A SHOOTER SUFFERS 
FROM BRAIN LESIONS. THE DEFENSE IS HOPING TO COVINCE THE VIRGINIA
JURY THAT KASI -- PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS KANSI -- IS MENTALLY ILL 
AND THEREFORE SHOULD NOT BE PUT TO DEATH FOR KILLING TWO C-I-A 
EMPLOYEES OUTSIDE THE AGENCY'S HEADQUARTERS FOUR YEARS AGO.
DEFENSE LAWYERS ALSO EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT MEDIA REPORTS ABOUT 
THE DEATHS OF FOUR AMERICANS IN PAKISTAN MIGHT UNFAIRLY INFLUENCE
THE JURY'S DECISION WHETHER TO SENTENCE KASI TO DEATH OR TO LIFE 
IN PRISON. JUDGE J. HOWE BROWN DENIED A DEFENSE REQUEST FOR A 
MISTRIAL BASED ON THAT CONCERN.
JUDGE BROWN ALSO RULED WEDNESDAY THAT THE IDENTITIES OF THE 
TWELVE JURORS WILL BE FOREVER KEPT SECRET. THEY JURY HAD SENT A 
NOTE TO THE JUDGE EXPRESSING FEAR FOR THEIR SAFETY AFTER THEY 
CONVICTED KASI ON ALL TEN COUNTS ON MONDAY.
SECURITY REMAINS TIGHT AT THE FAIRFAX COURT WHERE THE PENALTY 
PHASE OF THE TRIAL CONTINUES.
PROSECUTION WITNESSES HAVE DESCRIBED HOW KASI WALKED BETWEEN TWO 
LINES OF CARS OUTSIDE C-I-A HEADQUARTERS AND FIRED ROUND AFTER 
ROUND FROM AN AK-47 ASSAULT RIFLE, WHICH WAS LATER RECOVERED FROM
HIS VIRGINIA APARTMENT.
KASI WAS ARRESTED IN PAKISTAN IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR AFTER A FOUR 
YEAR INTERNATIONAL MANHUNT. DURING HIS RETURN TO THE UNITED 
STATES, HE SIGNED A STATEMENT TO THE F-B-I ADMITTING HIS ROLE IN 
THE ATTACK, A STATEMENT LATER CHALLENGED BY HIS DEFENSE TEAM.
KASI WAS PREVIOUSLY KNOWN HERE AS MIR AMAL KANSI, BUT PROSECUTOR 
ROBERT HORAN SAYS HE SIGNED HIS NAME AS KASI ON THE CONFESSION 
STATEMENT AND THAT IS HOW HIS NAME APPEARS IN THE FORMAL 
INDICTMENT. (SIGNED)
NEB/JBM/EH
12-Nov-97 6:33 PM EST (2333 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America