DATE=1/13/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244138
TITLE=CASTRO /DEATH PLOT TRIAL (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=MIKE CARRETE
DATELINE=MIAMI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A FEDERAL JUDGE IN PUERTO RICO HAS ORDERED THE TRIAL OF
SEVEN CUBAN EXILES ACCUSED OF PLOTTING TO ASSASSINATE CUBAN
PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO BE MOVED TO MIAMI. AMONG THOSE WHO WILL
BE TRIED IS A TOP MEMBER OF THE INFLUENTIAL MIAMI-BASED CUBAN
EXILE GROUP -- THE CUBAN AMERICAN NATIONAL FOUNDATION. FROM
MIAMI, MIKE CARRETE REPORTS.
TEXT: THE DEFENDANTS ARE THE FIRST EVER CHARGED IN A U-S COURT
WITH PLOTTING TO KILL THE CUBAN PRESIDENT, AND IF CONVICTED THE
SEVEN DEFENDANTS COULD GET LIFE IN PRISON. THEY ARE ALL PLEADING
INNOCENT TO THE CHARGES.
A FEDERAL JUDGE IN SAN JUAN APPROVED THE MOTION FOR A CHANGE OF
VENUE STATING THAT THE ALLEGED PLOT TO KILL MR. CASTRO 'WAS
PLANNED IN SOUTH FLORIDA.' THE CHARGES WERE FILED IN PUERTO RICO
BECAUSE FOUR OF THE DEFENDANTS WERE FOUND ABOARD A YACHT WHICH
WAS INTERCEPTED BY THE COAST GUARD IN 1997.
AFTER A SEARCH OF THE YACHT, INVESTIGATORS UNCOVERED TWO SNIPER
RIFLES. WHILE BEING TAKEN INTO CUSTODY ONE OF THE DEFENDANTS
ALLEGEDLY ANNOUNCED THAT HE WAS 'ON A MISSION TO KILL CUBAN
PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO' DURING HIS VISIT TO THE VENEZUALAN ISLAND
OF MARGARITA.
THE JUDGE ALSO RULED THAT TWO OF THE SEVEN COUNTS TO ASSASSINATE
PRESIDENT CASTRO TOOK PLACE IN SOUTH FLORIDA, AND SHOULD NOT HAVE
BEEN FILED IN PUERTO RICO. THE TRIAL IS ALSO BEING MOVED TO MIAMI
TO OFFSET THE COST OF SEPARATE TRIALS IN PUERTO RICO AND THE U-S
MAINLAND.
AN ATTORNEY REPRESENTING THE DEFENSE SAYS THE DECISION TO MOVE
THE TRIAL IS 'A COURAGEOUS RULING' AND THAT IT WILL PROBABLY TAKE
SEVERAL WEEKS TO TRANSFER THE CASE TO MIAMI AND SET A TRIAL DATE.
(SIGNED)
NEB/MC/TMD-T/WFR
13-Jan-99 3:10 PM EST (2010 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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