News



DATE=1/22/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-225699
TITLE=KACZYNSKI PLEADS GUILTY (L)
BYLINE=MIKE O'SULLIVAN
DATELINE=LOS ANGELES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:   THE MAN SUSPECTED OF BEING THE SO-CALLED UNIBOMBER HAS 
ENTERED A GUILTY PLEA IN A CALIFORNIA COURT.  THE PLEA FOLLOWED A
COMPROMISE AGREEMENT BETWEEN DEFENSE LAWYERS AND PROSECUTORS.  AS
V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT MIKE O'SULLIVAN REPORTS FROM V-O-A'S WEST 
COAST BUREAU, IT WILL SPARE THE ACCUSED MAN THE DEATH PENALTY.



TEXT:   UNDER THE AGREEMENT, THEODORE KACZYNSKI ADMITS KILLING 
THREE PEOPLE -- TWO OF THEM IN CALIFORNIA AND ONE IN NEW JERSEY. 
HE ALSO ADMITS TO INJURING TWO OTHERS IN A 17-YEAR TERROR 
CAMPAIGN OF SENDING BOMBS THROUGH THE MAIL.

UNDER THE AGREEMENT, KACZYNSKI WILL FACE A SENTENCE OF LIFE IN 
PRISON WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE.  HE IS PROHIBITED FROM 
EARNING ANY MONEY, FROM WRITING ABOUT THE CASE, AND AGREES NOT TO
APPEAL HIS CONVICTION.

THE PLEA AGREEMENT WILL BYPASS A TRIAL IN WHICH THE DEFENSE 
ATTORNEYS HAD HOPED TO RAISE THE ISSUE OF KACZYNSKI'S MENTAL 
HEALTH.  HE WAS STRONGLY OPPOSED TO HAVING HIS MENTAL CONDITION 
QUESTIONED.  A COURT PSYCHIATRIST DIAGNOSED KACZYNSKI AS A 
PARANOID SCHIZOPHRENIC, BUT HE SAID HE IS COMPETENT TO STAND 
TRIAL.

EARLY THURSDAY, JUDGE GARLAND BURRELL ANNOUNCED THAT KACZYNSKI 
COULD NOT ACT AS HIS OWN ATTORNEY, ELIMINATING THE ACCUSED MAN'S 
OPPORTUNITY TO AIR HIS ANTI-TECHNOLOGY VIEWS IN THE COURT ROOM.

A GRADUATE OF HARVARD AND THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN,   KACZYNSKI
LEFT A POSITION TEACHING MATHEMATICS AT BERKELEY IN 1969 AND 
LATER BUILT A CABIN IN THE WILDERNESS OF MONTANA.  FROM THERE, 
PROSECUTORS SAY HE WAGED HIS CAMPAIGN OF TERROR BY MAIL.  
(SIGNED)



NEB/MO/ENE-T/PT

22-Jan-98 7:15 PM EST (0015 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.