The World - News from May 9, 1986

An appeals court in Genoa, Italy, overturned the conviction of Bassam Ashker, the youngest gunman in the Achille Lauro hijacking in which a paralyzed American passenger was slain, on the grounds that Ashker was a minor at the time. He was ordered retried in a juvenile court. The three-judge panel also reduced the sentences of three of the four adult defendants by up to two years, but gave no reason for the change. They were convicted on charges of illegal possession of arms and explosives. The four adults and 10 other Palestinians face trial in Genoa on June 18 on kidnaping and murder charges in connection with the hijacking.