DATE=1/13/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244138 
TITLE=CASTRO /DEATH PLOT TRIAL (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=MIKE CARRETE 
DATELINE=MIAMI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO: A FEDERAL JUDGE IN PUERTO RICO HAS ORDERED THE TRIAL OF 
SEVEN CUBAN EXILES ACCUSED OF PLOTTING TO ASSASSINATE CUBAN 
PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO BE MOVED TO MIAMI.  AMONG THOSE WHO WILL 
BE TRIED IS A TOP MEMBER OF THE INFLUENTIAL MIAMI-BASED CUBAN 
EXILE GROUP --   THE CUBAN AMERICAN NATIONAL FOUNDATION.  FROM 
MIAMI, MIKE CARRETE REPORTS.

TEXT: THE DEFENDANTS ARE THE FIRST EVER CHARGED IN A U-S COURT 
WITH PLOTTING TO KILL THE CUBAN PRESIDENT, AND IF CONVICTED THE 
SEVEN DEFENDANTS COULD GET LIFE IN PRISON.  THEY ARE ALL PLEADING
INNOCENT TO THE CHARGES.

A FEDERAL JUDGE IN SAN JUAN APPROVED THE MOTION FOR A CHANGE OF 
VENUE STATING THAT THE ALLEGED PLOT TO KILL MR. CASTRO 'WAS 
PLANNED IN SOUTH FLORIDA.'  THE CHARGES WERE FILED IN PUERTO RICO
BECAUSE FOUR OF THE DEFENDANTS WERE FOUND ABOARD A YACHT WHICH 
WAS INTERCEPTED BY THE COAST GUARD IN 1997.

AFTER A SEARCH OF THE YACHT, INVESTIGATORS UNCOVERED TWO SNIPER 
RIFLES. WHILE BEING TAKEN INTO CUSTODY ONE OF THE DEFENDANTS 
ALLEGEDLY ANNOUNCED THAT HE WAS 'ON A MISSION TO KILL CUBAN 
PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO' DURING HIS VISIT TO THE VENEZUALAN ISLAND
OF MARGARITA.

THE JUDGE ALSO RULED THAT TWO OF THE SEVEN COUNTS TO ASSASSINATE 
PRESIDENT CASTRO TOOK PLACE IN SOUTH FLORIDA, AND SHOULD NOT HAVE
BEEN FILED IN PUERTO RICO. THE TRIAL IS ALSO BEING MOVED TO MIAMI
TO OFFSET THE COST OF SEPARATE TRIALS IN PUERTO RICO AND THE U-S 
MAINLAND.

AN ATTORNEY REPRESENTING THE DEFENSE SAYS THE DECISION TO MOVE 
THE TRIAL IS 'A COURAGEOUS RULING' AND THAT IT WILL PROBABLY TAKE
SEVERAL WEEKS TO TRANSFER THE CASE TO MIAMI AND SET A TRIAL DATE.
(SIGNED)

NEB/MC/TMD-T/WFR

13-Jan-99 3:10 PM EST (2010 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.