DATE=  11/4/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-222156

TITLE=TERROR TRIAL: DEFENSE SUMMARY  (L ONLY)

BYLINE=MARTIN BUSH

DATELINE=NEW YORK

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



INTRO:  THE DEFENSE LAWYERS OF TWO MEN ACCUSED OF EXPLODING A 

BOMB AT NEW YORK'S WORLD TRADE CENTER IN 1993 PRESENTED THEIR 

FINAL ARGUMENTS TO THE JURY TODAY (WEDNESDAY).  V-O-A'S MARTIN 

BUSH REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.



TEXT:   RAMZI YOUSEF IS ACCUSED OF ORGANIZING A PLOT TO BLOW UP 

NEW YORK'S WORLD TRADE CENTER FOUR YEARS AGO.  ALSO ON TRIAL IS 

EYAD ISMOIL, ACCUSED OF DRIVING THE TRUCK WITH THE BOMB.   MR. 

ISMOIL'S ATTORNEY SAID HIS CLIENT HAD BEEN A DUPE OF MR. YOUSEF 

AND HAD NOT TAKEN PART IN BUILDING THE BOMB.  HE DESCRIBED MR. 

ISMOIL AS "NO MENTAL GIANT."      



AS TO THE PROSECUTION'S CONTENTION THAT MR. ISMOIL HAD LOADED THE

BOMB ONTO A VAN AT A STORAGE LOCKER, THE DEFENSE LAWYER SAID THE 

LOCKER HAD NO ILLUMINATION AND HIS CLIENT HAD NO IDEA  WHAT HE 

WAS LOADING.  



MR. ISMOIL WAS ARRESTED IN 1995 IN JORDAN WHERE HE ALLEGEDLY 

ADMITTED TO GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS THAT HE HAD DRIVEN THE TRUCK IN 

WHICH THE BOMB WAS CONTAINED, BUT SAID HE THOUGHT HE WAS CARRYING

BOXES OF SHAMPOO.  



SIX PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND MORE THAN ONE-THOUSAND PEOPLE INJURED 

IN 1993 WHEN A BOMB WAS DETONATED IN THE BASEMENT GARAGE OF THE 

WORLD TRADE CENTER IN NEW YORK. 



RAMZI YOUSEF, CONVICTED LAST YEAR OF PLOTTING TO BOMB U-S 

AIRLINERS OVER ASIA, MAINTAINS HE IS INNOCENT OF MASTERMINDING 

THE TRADE CENTER BOMBING.  



THE CASE IS EXPECTED TO GO TO THE JURY WEDNESDAY.  SHOULD THE 

DEFENDANTS BE CONVICTED, THEY COULD BE GIVEN (MANDATORY) LIFE 

SENTENCES.   (SIGNED)  



NEB/NY/MAB/LSF/RRM



  







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04-Nov-97 2:32 PM EST (1932 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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