Took Part in Hijacking, Hamadi Says : Lebanese Muslim Stuns Court, Denies Killing Navy Diver

Mohammed Ali Hamadi admitted in court today to being one of four men who hijacked a TWA jetliner to Beirut in 1985, but denied shooting to death a U.S. Navy diver during the ordeal.

“I took part in the hijacking,” the Lebanese Shia Muslim said, reading from a statement in the heavily guarded courtroom.

“If this act which I committed is against the law, then it is a result of illegal conduct on the part of Israel,” Hamadi, speaking in Arabic, said through an interpreter.

Thirty-nine Americans were held captive for 17 days after TWA Flight 847 was hijacked on an Athens-to-Rome flight. During the ordeal, Navy diver Robert Stethem was killed and his body thrown onto a Beirut airport runway.

Hamadi, on trial for air piracy and murder, said he hijacked an American aircraft “because the United States is the greatest ally and supporter of Israel.”

‘Didn’t Use’ Pistol

The trial, which started in July, was to have adjourned after today until Sept. 6, when members of the crew of the TWA plane were to begin testifying.

Until today, the only testimony that Hamadi was involved in the hijacking came from two witnesses who testified that Hamadi’s older brother, Abbas, had told them as much.

Hamadi told the court that one of the three alleged hijackers still at large, Hassan Iz-al-Din, was in charge of the hijacking and that it was he who shot Stethem.

“The pistol was in his (Iz-al-Din’s) hand,” Hamadi said. “I didn’t use it. Our orders were not to harm anyone, but I couldn’t convince him not to shoot.”

Stethem’s parents, Richard and Patricia Stethem of Waldorf, Md., were sitting in the courtroom as Hamadi spoke.

‘Surprising for Everybody’

Hamadi said he took part in the hijacking in an attempt to free Shia Muslims held in Israeli prisons. Shortly after the June, 1985, hijacking ended, Israel released about 700 Shias.

When Hamadi finished, Chief Judge Heiner Mueckenberger said the testimony “was surprising for everybody. It marks a certain turn in the trial.

“It was an intelligent presentation of your point of view,” he added, saying the court will have to reconsider the future course of the trial.

Hamadi was arrested at Frankfurt airport Jan. 13, 1987, when customs officials found liquid explosives in his luggage.

The United States sought his extradition, but West Germany turned down the request after two West German businessmen were abducted in Beirut.