DATE=8/5/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-218155
TITLE=TERROR TRIAL WRAP (L-O)
BYLINE=BARBARA SCHOETZAU
DATELINE=NEW YORK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: IN NEW YORK TODAY (TUESDAY), TESTIMONY BEGAN IN THE TRIAL
OF RAMZI YOUSEF, ACCUSED OF BEING THE MASTERMIND OF THE 1993
BOMBING OF THE NEW YORK WORLD TRADE CENTER, AND AN ALLEGED
ACCOMPLICE, EYAD ISMOIL. CORRESPONDENT BARBARA SCHOETZAU REPORTS.
TEXT: FEDERAL JUDGE KEVIN DUFFY SET THE TONE FOR THE DAY BY
CAUTIONING JURORS TO LEAVE PRECONCEIVED IDEAS BEHIND AND RELY
SOLELY ON THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED IN THE COURTROOM TO DETERMINE
THEIR VERDICT. JUDGE DUFFY REPEATEDLY STRESSED TO THE JURY THAT
THE DEFENDANTS MUST BE PRESUMED INNOCENT AND THE GOVERNMENT MUST
PROVE THEIR GUILT BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT.
U-S ATTORNEY LEV DASSIN, IN HIS OPENING STATEMENT, SAID THE
GOVERNMENT WELCOMES THAT BURDEN OF PROOF. MR. DASSIN SAID THE
GOVERNMENT WILL BE ABLE TO LINK THE DEFENDANTS TO THE BLAST WITH
EVIDENCE, INCLUDING FINGERPRINTS. MR. DASSIN SAID MR. YOUSEF
CONFESSED TO THE CRIME BY BRAGGING TO FEDERAL AGENTS THAT HE
WANTED TO DESTROY ONE OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTER'S TOWERS TO "SEND
A MESSAGE TO AMERICANS THAT THEY WERE AT WAR" BECAUSE OF U-S
SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL.
SPEAKING WITH REPORTERS, MR. ISMOIL'S LAWYER, LOU AIDALA, SAID A
LACK OF CLEAR EVIDENCE WILL PRODUCE A "NOT GUILTY" VERDICT FOR
HIS CLIENT.
//// AIDALA ACT ////
I BELIEVE THAT, AT THE END OF THE CASE, THERE WILL BE A
LACK OF EVIDENCE AND, THEREFORE, THEY WOULD BE REQUIRED,
UNDER THE LAW, TO RETURN A VERDICT OF WHAT I CALL "NOT
PROVEN" BECAUSE THAT IS THE BURDEN, NOT PROVEN, AND THE
WORDS ARE "NOT GUILTY."
//// END ACT ////
THE PROSECUTION CALLED AS ITS FIRST WITNESS THE DIRECTOR OF THE
WORLD TRADE CENTER, CHARLES MAKISH. U-S ATTORNEY DAVID KELLY LED
MR. MAKISH THROUGH A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE HUGE BUSINESS
COMPLEX, INCLUDING THE HOTEL AND BUILDINGS DAMAGED BY THE BLAST
AND THE PARKING AREA WHERE THE VAN CONTAINING THE BOMB WAS FOUND.
HE ALSO DESCRIBED SOME OF THE ONE-THOUSAND BUSINESSES AND
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES REPRESENTING 60 DIFFERENT NATIONS THAT HAD
OFFICES IN THE BUILDINGS, INCLUDING THE U-S SECRET SERVICE AND
THE U-S CUSTOMS HOUSE.
THE TWO DEFENDANTS FACE AN ARRAY OF CHARGES IN CONNECTION WITH
THE BOMBING, INCLUDING THE DESTRUCTION OF FEDERAL PROPERTY AND
THE INJURY OF SECRET SERVICE AGENTS.
MR. MAKISH TESTIFIED THAT THE WORLD TRADE CENTER WAS CONSTRUCTED
TO WITHSTAND THE IMPACT OF A 7-0-7 AIRLINER.
FOUR OTHER MEN HAVE ALREADY BEEN CONVICTED IN THE BOMBING IN A
SEPARATE TRIAL. PROSECUTORS SAY THEY WILL LINK THE DEFENDANTS TO
AT LEAST ONE OF THESE MEN. BUT THE DEFENDING LAWYERS CAUTIONED
THE JURY TO AVOID GUILT BY ASSOCIATON.
RAMZI YOUSEF WAS CONVICTED IN AN EARLIER TRIAL OF PLOTTING TO
BOMB U-S AIRLINERS FLYING OVER ASIA. THIS TRIAL IS EXPECTED TO
LAST SEVERAL MONTHS. (SIGNED)
NEB/NY/BJS/LSF/RRM
05-Aug-97 5:35 PM EDT (2135 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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