DATE=  10/31/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-221995

TITLE=C-I-A SHOOTER TRIAL (L)

BYLINE=JIM MALONE

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:



            /// SUITABLE FOR SUNDAY-MONDAY SHOWS ///



INTRO:   THE PAKISTANI NATIONAL ACCUSED OF KILLING TWO PEOPLE AND

WOUNDING THREE OTHERS OUTSIDE C-I-A HEADQUARTERS IN VIRGINIA IN

1993 GOES ON TRIAL FOR MURDER MONDAY. THE ALLEGED GUNMAN, MIR

AMAL KASI, COULD FACE THE DEATH PENALTY IF CONVICTED IN THE CASE.

V-O-A CORRESPONDENT JIM MALONE HAS DETAILS.



TEXT:   MIR AMAL KASI STANDS ACCUSED OF KILLING TWO PEOPLE AND

WOUNDING THREE OTHERS AS HE ALLEGEDLY FIRED BURST AFTER BURST

FROM AN AK-47 ASSAULT RIFLE OUTSIDE C-I-A HEADQUARTERS IN

LANGLEY, VIRGINIA, ON JANUARY 25, 1993.



ALL BUT ONE OF THOSE SHOT WERE C-I-A EMPLOYEES. ALL OF THE

VICTIMS WERE SHOT IN THEIR CARS AS THEY WAITED FOR A TRAFFIC

LIGHT TO CHANGE IN FRONT OF C-I-A HEADQUARTERS.



MR. KASI WAS FORMALLY KNOWN AS MIR AMAL KANSI. HE WAS ARRESTED BY

F-B-I AGENTS THIS PAST JUNE IN PAKISTAN. PROSECUTORS SAY HE

SIGNED A STATEMENT ADMITTING TO THE C-I-A KILLINGS AS MIR AMAL

KASI AND THAT IS THE NAME THAT APPEARS IN THE FORMAL INDICTMENT.



THE JUDGE IN THE CASE, J. HOWE BROWN, HAS REFUSED REQUESTS FROM

MR. KASI'S DEFENSE TEAM TO SUPPRESS THE STATEMENT OF CONFESSION.

THE JUDGE HAS ALSO DENIED A DEFENSE REQUEST THAT THE MURDER TRIAL

BE MOVED OUT OF VIRGINIA BECAUSE INTENSE LOCAL NEWS MEDIA

COVERAGE IS MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR MR. KASI TO GET A FAIR TRIAL.



HOWEVER, THE JUDGE DID GRANT ONE DEFENSE REQUEST. JUDGE BROWN

SAYS PROSECUTORS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO REFER TO MR. KASI AS A

TERRORIST, SAYING THERE IS NO EVIDENCE LINKING THE SUSPECT TO ANY

TERRORIST GROUPS.



IF CONVICTED, MR. KASI COULD FACE THE DEATH PENALTY. UNDER

VIRGINIA STATE LAW, IT IS UP TO THE PROSECUTION TO SHOW THAT THE

CRIME WAS PARTICULARLY BRUTAL AND DESERVING OF CAPITAL

PUNISHMENT. PROSECUTOR ROBERT HORAN SAYS HE INTENDS TO DESCRIBE

HOW MR. KASI ALLEGEDLY RETURNED TO ONE OF HIS WOUNDED VICTIMS AND

FIRED THREE ADDITIONAL SHOTS, KILLING THE MAN INSTANTLY.



THE MURDER TRIAL WILL BE HELD IN FAIRFAX COUNTY, VIRGINIA, JUST

OUTSIDE WASHINGTON. (SIGNED)



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31-Oct-97 11:54 AM EST (1654 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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