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 ]
Article originally appeared on (http://brownwatch.com/).
See website for complete article licensing information.
]