DATE=  11/3/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-222086

TITLE=C-I-A SHOOTINGS (L)

BYLINE=JIM MALONE

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:



INTRO:  THE MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING TWO PEOPLE AND WOUNDING THREE

OTHERS OUTSIDE C-I-A HEADQUARTERS IN VIRGINIA FOUR YEARS AGO

ENTERED A PLEA OF  NOT  GUILTY ON THE OPENING DAY OF HIS MURDER

TRIAL MONDAY.  AS V-O-A CORRESPONDENT JIM MALONE REPORTS, MIR

AMAL KASI COULD FACE THE DEATH PENALTY IF HE IS CONVICTED IN

CONNECTION WITH THE SHOOTING SPREE.



TEXT:  MIR AMAL KASI REPLIED  NOT  GUILTY WHEN ASKED ABOUT EACH

OF THE TEN CRIMINAL CHARGES PENDING AGAINST HIM, INCLUDING

MURDER.  MR. KASI, FORMERLY KNOWN AS MIR AMAL KANSI, IS CHARGED

WITH SHOOTING FIVE PEOPLE AS THEY WAITED IN THEIR CARS FOR A

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

LANGLEY, VIRGINIA, ON JANUARY 25, 1993.



AFTER THE PLEA, THE JUDGE IN THE CASE BEGAN THE PROCESS OF JURY

SELECTION WHICH COULD TAKE A FEW DAYS.  SECURITY IS VERY TIGHT IN

AND AROUND THE FAIRFAX COUNTY, VIRGINIA, COURTHOUSE WHERE THE

TRIAL IS BEING HELD.



MR. KASI WAS ARRESTED BY F-B-I AGENTS IN HIS NATIVE PAKISTAN THIS

PAST JUNE AFTER AN EXTENSIVE INTERNATIOINAL MANHUNT.  AS HE WAS

BEING RETURNED TO THE UNITED STATES, HE REPORTEDLY CONFESSED TO

THE F-B-I ABOUT THE SHOOTINGS.  JUDGE J. HOWE BROWN HAS DENIED A

DEFENSE MOTION TO SUPPRESS THE CONFESSION AND HAS ALSO REFUSED

DEFENSE REQUESTS TO DELAY THE TRIAL AND MOVE IT OUT OF VIRGINIA.



IN ADDITION TO THE ALLEGED CONFESSION, PROSECUTORS ALSO SAY THEY

RECOVERED THE AK-47 WHICH THEY SAY MR. KASI USED IN THE

SHOOTINGS.  THEY ALSO SAY THEY FOUND MR. KASI'S FINGERPRINTS AT

THE SHOOTING SCENE.



IN HIS STATEMENT TO THE F-B-I SHORTLY AFTER HIS ARREST, MR. KASI

ALLEGEDLY SAID HE OPENED FIRE OUTSIDE THE C-I-A'S MAIN ENTRANCE

TO, IN HIS WORDS, TEACH A LESSON TO THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT

BY TEACHING THAT LESSON TO THE C-I-A.



JUDGE BROWN DID GRANT A DEFENSE MOTION WHICH PROHIBITS THE

PROSECUTION FROM REFERRING TO MR. KASI AS A TERRORIST.  THE JUDGE

SAYS THERE IS  NO  EVIDENCE THAT MR. KASI BELONGS TO ANY

TERRORIST GROUP.



IF HE IS CONVICTED OF MURDER, MR. KASI COULD BE SENTENCED TO

DEATH.  IN ORDER FOR HIM TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE DEATH PENALTY, IT

WILL BE UP TO PROSECUTORS TO SHOW THAT THE CRIME HE ALLEGEDLY

CARRIED OUT WAS PARTICULARLY BRUTAL AND THAT HE IS A FUTURE

THREAT TO SOCIETY. (SIGNED)



NEB/JBM/MMK







03-Nov-97 12:16 PM EST (1716 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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