UNITED STATES: PROSECUTION AND DEFENCE MAKE OPENING STATEMENTS IN POINDEXTER TRIAL

Record ID: 337000

  • Title: UNITED STATES: PROSECUTION AND DEFENCE MAKE OPENING STATEMENTS IN POINDEXTER TRIAL
  • Date: 9th March 1990
  • Summary: WASHINGTON, DC, UNITED STATES (MARCH 9, 1990) 1. GV/PAN OLIVER NORTH ARRIVING IN VAN AT SIDE ENTRANCE OF COURT BUILDING, ENTERS COURT 0.25 2. SV JOHN POINDEXTER AND LAWYERS ARRIVE AND POSE FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS, THEN ENTER FEDERAL COURT BUILDING 1.03 3. SV LAWYERS ARRIVING, CARRYING DOCUMENTS INTO COURT 1.13 4. SV TROLLEY WITH BOXES OF DOCUMENTS BEING WHEELED INTO COUR
  • Embargoed: 24th March 1990 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: WASHINGTON, DC, UNITED STATES
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA9IFHA8IH3B54D6G2T7IU43CMN
  • Story Text: WASHINGTON, DC, UNITED STATES

    Former United States (US) White House advisor John Poindexter was called both a "loyal aide" by his defence counsel and a "cynical boss" by the prosecution in contrasting opening statements at his Iran-Contra trial in Washington on Thursday (March 8).

    The retired admiral faces five felony charges relating to a secret White House plan to sell illegal arms to Iran in exchange for the Nicaraguan Contra rebels. Poindexter has consistently maintained that his actions were motivated solely by loyalty to his superior, former president Ronald Reagan.

    On Friday (March 9), retired US Marine officer Oliver North, already convicted and sentenced for his part in the scandal, was brought to the Federal Court Building, under a subpoena to testify against Poindexter, his former boss. A government prosecutor accused the retired admiral of "lying to Congress" during testimony about what several Congressmen have termed "the worst scandal" of Reagan's presidency.

    Defence attorneys have promised to play video-taped testimony from Reagan showing that he authorised the illegal Iran-Contra operation.

    <strong>Source: REUTERS - IAN MCDOUGALL</strong>
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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