DATE= 10/3/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-220810
TITLE=UNABOMBER/JURY (L)
BYLINE=GREG FLAKUS/LA
DATELINE=LA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
/// RE-RUNNING W/CORRECT NUMBER ///
INTRO: A FEDERAL JUDGE IN SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA HAS DECIDED
THAT THE NAMES OF JURORS IN THE UNABOMBER TRIAL SHOULD BE KEPT
SECRET. AS V-O-A'S GREG FLAKUS REPORTS FROM LOS ANGELES,
ATTORNEYS ON BOTH SIDES ARE ALREADY ARGUING OVER THE ISSUE OF THE
DEATH PENALTY.
TEXT: UNDER THE ORDER ISSUED BY U-S DISTRICT COURT JUDGE
GARLAND BURRELL, THE JUROR NAMES, ADDRESSES, PLACES OF EMPLOYMENT
AND NAMES OF SPOUSES WILL BE KEPT SECRET UNTIL AFTER THE TRIAL IS
OVER. JUDGE BURRELL REJECTED ARGUMENTS FROM NEWS ORGANIZATIONS
THAT AN OPEN, PUBLIC TRIAL REQUIRES THAT THE IDENTITY OF ALL
PARTICIPANTS BE KNOWN. THE JUDGE CITED OTHER HIGH-PROFILE CASES
IN WHICH JURORS WERE GRANTED SIMILAR PROTECTION.
THE ACCUSED UNABOMBER, THEODORE KACZYNSKI, IS A HARVARD-EDUCATED
MATHEMATICIAN WHO WAS ARRESTED BY FBI AGENTS IN APRIL OF LAST
YEAR AT A REMOTE CABIN IN MONTANA. HE IS CHARGED WITH TEN FELONY
COUNTS RELATED TO TWO FATAL BOMBINGS IN SACRAMENTO AS WELL AS
SOME OTHER BLASTS IN WHICH PEOPLE WERE INJURED.
THE TRIAL IS NOT SET TO BEGIN UNTIL NOVEMBER 12, BUT MR
KACZYNSKI'S ATTORNEYS HAVE ALREADY FILED PAPERS CHALLENGING THE
DEATH PENALTY AS UNCONSTITUTIONAL. IN A COUNTER MOTION,
PROSECUTORS ON FRIDAY FILED PAPERS ARGUING THAT THE DEATH PENALTY
IS NOT ONLY JUSTIFIED BY THE BRUTAL NATURE OF THE CRIMES
COMMITTED, BUT BY THE THREAT MR KACZYNSKI COULD POSE TO SOCIETY
IF ALLOWED TO LIVE-- EVEN IN PRISON. PROSECUTORS CITED THE CASE
OF A BOMBING SUSPECT WHO MANAGED TO ASSEMBLE BOMBS AND SEND THEM
TO PEOPLE WHILE HE WAS BEING HELD IN A STATE PRISON.
MR KACZYNSKI HAS PLEADED NOT GUILTY. PROSECUTORS, HOWEVER, HAVE
A MOUNTAIN OF EVIDENCE TO LINK HIM TO VARIOUS BOMBINGS THAT BEGAN
IN 1978. THE BOMBS WERE SENT THROUGH THE MAIL IN PACKAGES AND
THE TARGETS WERE GENERALLY PEOPLE INVOLVED IN ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY
STUDIES. (SIGNED).
NEB/PT
03-Oct-97 8:07 PM EDT (0007 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
