DATE=4/6/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247707
TITLE=LOCKERBIE BOMBING ARRAIGNMENT (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=LAUREN COMITEAU
DATELINE=THE HAGUE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: SCOTTISH POLICE HAVE BROUGHT FORMAL CHARGES OF MURDER
AGAINST TWO LIBYANS ACCUSED OF BLOWING UP AN AMERICAN PASSENGER
JET OVER (LOCKERBIE) SCOTLAND, MORE THAN 10 YEARS AGO. IF THE
MEN ARE CONVICTED OF KILLING THE 270 PEOPLE ABOARD THE PLANE,
THEY COULD BE SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON. THE SUSPECTS ARRIVED
IN THE NETHERLANDS MONDAY TO STAND TRIAL BEFORE A SPECIAL COURT.
LAUREN COMITEAU REPORTS FROM THE HAGUE.
TEXT: THE ARRAIGNMENT TOOK PLACE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. A
SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT TOLD REPORTERS THE TWO
MEN LISTENED AS THE NAMES OF ALL 270 OF THE BOMBING VICTIMS WERE
READ OUT.
THEY WERE CHARGED -- IN BOTH ENGLISH AND ARABIC -- WITH MURDER,
CONSPIRACY AND VIOLATIONS OF INTERNATIONAL AVIATION LAW FOR
ALLEGEDLY PLANTING A BOMB IN A SUITCASE THAT EXPLODED ABOARD THE
PAN AMERICAN [AIRWAYS] JUMBO JET.
THE ACCUSED MEN DID NOT ENTER A PLEA. THAT WILL COME WHEN
THEIR TRIAL GETS UNDERWAY. THEY CONFIRMED THEIR IDENTITIES
BEFORE A SCOTTISH JUDGE -- AND WERE FINGER-PRINTED, PHOTOGRAPHED,
AND MADE TO GIVE D-N-A SAMPLES IN THIS FIRST STEP OF LEGAL
PROCEEDINGS WITHIN THE SCOTTISH SYSTEM.
IN AN UNPRECEDENTED ARRANGEMENT, THE TWO MEN WILL BE TRIED BY
THREE SCOTTISH JUDGES AT A FORMER U-S MILITARY BASE, KAMP ZEIST,
10 KILOMETERS OUTSIDE THE CENTRAL DUTCH CITY OF UTRECHT. THE BASE
HAS BEEN CEDED TO BRITAIN -- MUCH LIKE A CONSULATE OR EMBASSY --
FOR THE DURATION OF THE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
SECURITY IS TIGHT, WITH SCOTTISH POLICE ARMED WITH MACHINE GUNS
AND ATTACK DOGS PATROLLING THE BASE'S PERIMETER. // OPT // THE
MEN ARE STAYING IN A TEMPORARY DETENTION CENTER -- RENAMED "HER
MAJESTY'S PRISON, ZEIST" -- WHILE WORKERS FINISH CONVERTING A
BOMB-PROOF UNDERGROUND COMPLEX INTO MORE PERMANENT CELLS. THEY
WILL ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO A PRAYER ROOM AND AN EXERCISE ROOM. //
END OPT //
PROSECUTORS HAVE ABOUT ONE WEEK TO PRESENT A SUMMARY OF THE
EVIDENCE AGAINST THE LIBYAN MEN. UNDER SCOTTISH LAW, A TRIAL
SHOULD START WITHIN 110 DAYS OF THE ARRAIGNMENT.
BUT SCOTTISH POLICE -- WHO MADE INQUIRES IN 70 COUNTRIES -- HAVE
GATHERED ABOUT 15-THOUSAND STATEMENTS, 18-THOUSAND ITEMS OF
PROPERTY, AND 35-THOUSAND PHOTOGRAPHS. THAT EVIDENCE MUST BE
DISCLOSED TO DEFENSE LAWYERS WHO THEN NEED TIME TO PREPARE THEIR
CASES.
A SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT SPOKESWOMAN SAYS THAT COULD DELAY THE TRIAL
BY SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR.
THE MEN SAY THEY ARE INNOCENT. IF FOUND GUILTY, THEY WILL SERVE
THEIR SENTENCES IN SCOTLAND. (SIGNED)
NEB/LC/JWH/WTW
06-Apr-99 3:02 PM EDT (1902 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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