Haiti Jury Acquits Ex-Paramilitary Leader

A jury acquitted former paramilitary leader Louis-Jodel Chamblain of murder charges Tuesday after a secretive trial in the middle of the night, angering human rights groups who blamed the country's U.S.-backed government. Chamblain and co-defendent Jackson Joanis were acquitted just after dawn in the 1993 murder of Antoine Izmery, a former justice minister and financier of former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, according to Stanley Gaston, an attorney for Chamblain. Eight witnesses were called by the prosecution, but only one showed up, saying he knew nothing about the case, according to Viles Alizar, with the National Coalition for Haitian Rights. For the defense, two showed up, but offered few details of the case, he said. Both defendants still face further murder trial.Chamblain led a band of rebels during a bloody revolt that began Feb. 5 in the northern city of Gonaives. After a three-week rebellion, Aristide was pushed from power Feb. 29. Chamblain claims Aristide ordered his henchmen to kill his pregnant wife in 1991 and told The Associated Press during the revolt that he would do the same to Aristide given the chance. [more ]