DATE=  11/12/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-222573

TITLE=KASI SENTENCE (L UPDATE)

BYLINE=JIM MALONE

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:



// EDS: THIS CHANGES ONLY THE INTRO IN THE PREVIOUS, 2-222556 //



INTRO:  A SENTENCING HEARING HAS CONCLUDED FOR THE DAY

(WEDNESDAY) IN VIRGINIA IN THE CASE OF A PAKISTANI MAN CONVICTED

OF MURDER IN A SHOOTING SPREE OUTSIDE C-I-A HEADQUARTERS FOUR

YEARS AGO.  THE JUDGE IN THE CASE SEQUESTERED THE JURORS FOR

THEIR OWN SAFETY AFTER FOUR AMERICANS WERE SHOT TO DEATH IN

PAKISTAN. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT JIM MALONE IS MONITORING THE CASE

OF MIR AMAL KASI.



TEXT:   KASI'S DEFENSE TEAM BROUGHT IN TWO MEDICAL EXPERTS

WEDNESDAY WHO TESTIFIED THAT THE CONVICTED C-I-A SHOOTER SUFFERS

FROM BRAIN LESIONS. THE DEFENSE IS HOPING TO COVINCE THE VIRGINIA

JURY THAT KASI -- PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS KANSI -- IS MENTALLY ILL

AND THEREFORE SHOULD NOT BE PUT TO DEATH FOR KILLING TWO C-I-A

EMPLOYEES OUTSIDE THE AGENCY'S HEADQUARTERS FOUR YEARS AGO.



DEFENSE LAWYERS ALSO EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT MEDIA REPORTS ABOUT

THE DEATHS OF FOUR AMERICANS IN PAKISTAN MIGHT UNFAIRLY INFLUENCE

THE JURY'S DECISION WHETHER TO SENTENCE KASI TO DEATH OR TO LIFE

IN PRISON. JUDGE J. HOWE BROWN DENIED A DEFENSE REQUEST FOR A

MISTRIAL BASED ON THAT CONCERN.



JUDGE BROWN ALSO RULED WEDNESDAY THAT THE IDENTITIES OF THE

TWELVE JURORS WILL BE FOREVER KEPT SECRET. THEY JURY HAD SENT A

NOTE TO THE JUDGE EXPRESSING FEAR FOR THEIR SAFETY AFTER THEY

CONVICTED KASI ON ALL TEN COUNTS ON MONDAY.



SECURITY REMAINS TIGHT AT THE FAIRFAX COURT WHERE THE PENALTY

PHASE OF THE TRIAL CONTINUES.



PROSECUTION WITNESSES HAVE DESCRIBED HOW KASI WALKED BETWEEN TWO

LINES OF CARS OUTSIDE C-I-A HEADQUARTERS AND FIRED ROUND AFTER

ROUND FROM AN AK-47 ASSAULT RIFLE, WHICH WAS LATER RECOVERED FROM

HIS VIRGINIA APARTMENT.



KASI WAS ARRESTED IN PAKISTAN IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR AFTER A FOUR

YEAR INTERNATIONAL MANHUNT. DURING HIS RETURN TO THE UNITED

STATES, HE SIGNED A STATEMENT TO THE F-B-I ADMITTING HIS ROLE IN

THE ATTACK, A STATEMENT LATER CHALLENGED BY HIS DEFENSE TEAM.



KASI WAS PREVIOUSLY KNOWN HERE AS MIR AMAL KANSI, BUT PROSECUTOR

ROBERT HORAN SAYS HE SIGNED HIS NAME AS KASI ON THE CONFESSION

STATEMENT AND THAT IS HOW HIS NAME APPEARS IN THE FORMAL

INDICTMENT. (SIGNED)



NEB/JBM/EH







12-Nov-97 6:33 PM EST (2333 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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