Wednesday, 12 Pluviôse 185 14:00 LMT
AIW Court Delivers Bombing Verdict
Joanne t'Resan: Good afternoon from ch'Taala and welcome to this special edition of BCL Evening News. On 25 Vendémiare of this year, bombs went off in two AIW cities, Bellevue de l'Air in the Segan Monarchy and Grax in the Maccotian Dominion, killing 115,000 people and injuring 145,000. Four Tal Shiar agents were later arrested in connection with these bombings. We've just learned that the jury has reached a verdict in this case and we take you now live to Segania Prime where our Aidoann t'Idrys has been following this case.
>> Thank you, Joanne. The jury has indeed reached a verdict, although it will still be several minutes before the announcement. It has been rather difficult to know what has been occurring inside the courtroom, since the AIW does not allow the media into the trial and the participants are prohibited from discussing the case.
>> Can you tell us about any of the evidence presented during the trial?
>> Unfortunately, no. We do know that prior to the trial, AIW police seized various documents from the defendants' hotel room, detailing Tal Shiar plans for attacks on other AIW cities. The defence challenged the seizure, claiming the documents fell under diplomatic immunity and were therefore illegally obtained. The court upheld that claim, throwing out the documents. That made the prosecution's case much tougher.
>> What other evidence does the prosecution have, and what about the defence?
>> Neither party has discussed the evidence, so nobody's really sure. Statements by the defence attorney have indicated that he feels confident that he's successfully created reasonable doubt in the minds of the jury. However, even if the defendants are acquitted, the trial's not over. Under AIW law, the Crown can appeal an acquittal to a higher court. That's not considered double jeopardy here.
>> Cases are prosecuted by the Crown?
>> That's correct. The AIW, like many other nations, feels that a crime affects all of society, not just the actual victims. As such, those nations hold trials where it is "the People or "the Crown" or "the nation" versus the defendant. There's much more emphasis on the state here than in the Commonwealth.
>> Thank you, Aidoann, and we'll be returning to you for the announcement of the verdict.
Many people here on L'nhraei are reminded of the trial here 124 years ago, following the war with the Dominion in 61. In that case, a Tal Shiar station orbiting L'nhraei was destroyed by its commanding officers, most likely to cover up research and provoke L'nhraei. Eight L'nhraei and two Federation observers were killed, as were the Tal Shiar personnel who remained aboard. No positive link to the Tal Shiar was ever found, resulting in an acquittal for murder but a conviction on the ten counts of manslaughter. The three defendants were sentenced to 250 years in prison and still remain there today. Those events, and the Federation's refusal to hold the Empire accountable for its actions, led to L'nhraei's secession and the formation of the Commonwealth.
We've just received word that the jury is about to announce its verdict. We go back to Segania Prime.
>> Thank you, Joanne. There has been one camera allowed in the courtroom for the verdict, supplied by APNN, the state-run news agency of the AIW, and provided to everyone here covering the trial.
>> Does the jury confirm their final verdict?
>> We do, Your Honour.
>> Will the four defendants rise?
>> Gentlemen, the Crown finds that your case seems to have captured the interest of
every leader, every citizen, every honourable person in this universe. It is my hope that
the verdict places to rest the accusations put forward against this province, a province
whom many have chosen to die in order to ensure her protection, to ensure she remained a
just and lawful land. The Crown believes that the verdict was made by intelligent,
conscious, and honourable citizens whom I consider loyal to the Crown, and loyal to the
Alliance.
Please read out the Crown's verdict.
>> It is this court's finding that on the charges of 115,000 counts of murder we
find the defendants Takrel, Sarel, Raknek, and Arnek not guilty. On the charges of 145,000
counts of attempted murder we find the defendants Takrel, Sarel, Raknek, and Arnek not
guilty.
>> The Crown is satisfied with the verdict, this court is adjourned.
Reporter: The jury has just returned a verdict of not guilty on all charges. The crowd surrounding the courthouse does not appear to be pleased with the verdict.
Joanne t'Resan: Any idea what led to the acquittal?
>> None whatsoever. We have been allowed to listen to the closing arguments on both sides. The defence attorney claimed that the AIW planted evidence and simply blamed the Rihannsu Empire out of convienience. There has been disagreement with the AIW government here, especially over sending troops into Yoltorian space. Perhaps the defence played to those sentiments and was found believable.
>> Will transcripts of the trial be made available?
>> Possibly. BCL has made a request, but it remains to be seen whether it will be allowed. If not, we may never know what went on in there.
>> During the Tal Shiar trial here, many felt the Federation refused to do anything in order to maintain relations with the Rihannsu Empire, regardless of what happened to individual citizens. Could something like that have happened here?
>> Several IAP council members, most notably the Klingon ambassador, felt that the defendants would not receive a fair trial, that the AIW was so eager to convict that it would ignore due process. It's certainly possible that the government wanted to avoid angering the Empire even more than seeing justice done, and might not have presented its best case, With the Tal Shiar documents thrown out, a conviction could be difficult. An acquittal would send the defendants home, the AIW could apologise, and foreign relations wouldn't suffer as much. Or, it could very well be that the defence simply did its job, poking enough holes in the prosecution's theory. There are other groups such as Grotian Industries, which the AIW is fighting in Yoltorian space, who would have the motive to commit an act like this. The problem with closed trials is that we can only guess at what happened, leaving us very unconfident in the final verdict. We've only heard bits and pieces from the trial, all selected by the AIW government.
>> So these defendants walk because of diplomatic immunity?
>> Apparently so. We're fortunate in the Commonwealth that we hold everyone responsible for their actions, even if that person happens to be in government.
>> Would the documents have been thrown out in a Commonwealth court?
>> There was enough pointing towards the Tal Shiar for a warrant to be issued. Nobody's questioning the validity of the warrant in terms of probable cause, only that it was illegal since the documents belonged to a foreign government and were therefore privileged.
>> You're telling me a government can plan terrorist acts and then hide behind diplomatic immunity?
>> That's one of the reasons the Commonwealth refuses to recognise it, although the main reason focused more on individual diplomats. Diplomatic offices have been searched in the Commonwealth, and evidence found there has been used.
>> Interesting. Will the Crown appeal?
>> No. Crown Prince Youri Rosbourg is apparently more interested in preparations for his upcoming wedding. I suppose they could try someone else for these crimes, perhaps higher up in the Tal Shiar, but all we and everyone else can do is guess at what went on in that courthouse. Reporting live from Segania Prime, this is Aidoann t'Idrys, BCL News. Back to you, Joanne.
>> This has been an astonishing close to this case that we've been following for almost four months now. All four defendants were found not guilty of these horrible bombings. This will certainly affect public opinion throughout the AIW, especially in the Segan Monarchy and the Maccotian Dominion, and on relations between the AIW and other nations.
For those of you who normally see the Evening News at this hour, please stay with us for the rest of the day's events. We now return other viewers to their regularly-scheduled programmes.
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