Lori Berenson Update

The civil trial of Lori Berenson, the US citizen who has been held in Peruvian prisons for five years, was delayed late last year. Lori was previously convicted of being a terrorist and leader of a rebel guerilla group in Peru. She was sentenced to life imprisonment for treason, but when the Peruvian military admitted to having no evidence, the sentence was overturned. The government is now proceeding with a civil trial.

On November 17, the President of Peru's Civilian Terrorism Court granted an extension so that the prosecutor could attempt to obtain more testimony in Lori's case. To date, Peru does not have sufficient evidence to warrant a conviction, and the extension enables the prosecution to conduct a time-wasting "fishing expedition." The oral phase of the trial is now expected to commence in late January.

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Last Update: 1/28/01