DATE=1/22/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-225699
TITLE=KACZYNSKI PLEADS GUILTY (L)
BYLINE=MIKE O'SULLIVAN
DATELINE=LOS ANGELES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE MAN SUSPECTED OF BEING THE SO-CALLED UNIBOMBER HAS
ENTERED A GUILTY PLEA IN A CALIFORNIA COURT. THE PLEA FOLLOWED A
COMPROMISE AGREEMENT BETWEEN DEFENSE LAWYERS AND PROSECUTORS. AS
V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT MIKE O'SULLIVAN REPORTS FROM V-O-A'S WEST
COAST BUREAU, IT WILL SPARE THE ACCUSED MAN THE DEATH PENALTY.
TEXT: UNDER THE AGREEMENT, THEODORE KACZYNSKI ADMITS KILLING
THREE PEOPLE -- TWO OF THEM IN CALIFORNIA AND ONE IN NEW JERSEY.
HE ALSO ADMITS TO INJURING TWO OTHERS IN A 17-YEAR TERROR
CAMPAIGN OF SENDING BOMBS THROUGH THE MAIL.
UNDER THE AGREEMENT, KACZYNSKI WILL FACE A SENTENCE OF LIFE IN
PRISON WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE. HE IS PROHIBITED FROM
EARNING ANY MONEY, FROM WRITING ABOUT THE CASE, AND AGREES NOT TO
APPEAL HIS CONVICTION.
THE PLEA AGREEMENT WILL BYPASS A TRIAL IN WHICH THE DEFENSE
ATTORNEYS HAD HOPED TO RAISE THE ISSUE OF KACZYNSKI'S MENTAL
HEALTH. HE WAS STRONGLY OPPOSED TO HAVING HIS MENTAL CONDITION
QUESTIONED. A COURT PSYCHIATRIST DIAGNOSED KACZYNSKI AS A
PARANOID SCHIZOPHRENIC, BUT HE SAID HE IS COMPETENT TO STAND
TRIAL.
EARLY THURSDAY, JUDGE GARLAND BURRELL ANNOUNCED THAT KACZYNSKI
COULD NOT ACT AS HIS OWN ATTORNEY, ELIMINATING THE ACCUSED MAN'S
OPPORTUNITY TO AIR HIS ANTI-TECHNOLOGY VIEWS IN THE COURT ROOM.
A GRADUATE OF HARVARD AND THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, KACZYNSKI
LEFT A POSITION TEACHING MATHEMATICS AT BERKELEY IN 1969 AND
LATER BUILT A CABIN IN THE WILDERNESS OF MONTANA. FROM THERE,
PROSECUTORS SAY HE WAGED HIS CAMPAIGN OF TERROR BY MAIL.
(SIGNED)
NEB/MO/ENE-T/PT
22-Jan-98 7:15 PM EST (0015 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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