Retrial of American Begins in Peru
An American convicted five years ago of helping plot a terrorist attack used her first appearance in open court Tuesday to proclaim her innocence.
Lori Berenson heard a three-hour reading of charges accusing her of helping leftist guerrillas plot a thwarted takeover of Congress.
Berenson, 31, stood in a cell in court--a common practice in terrorism cases--flanked by two guards. The former Massachusetts Institute of Technology student is accused of “terrorist collaboration” for allegedly renting a house in 1995 used by the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement as a hide-out and training center.
Prosecutors contend that she posed as a journalist with the wife of a guerrilla leader to gain entry to Congress in order to plan a takeover of the legislature to exchange hostages for hundreds of jailed rebels.
Five years ago, hooded military judges convicted Berenson of treason during a secret trial that denied her any semblance of a defense. She was sentenced to life in prison.
In August, then-President Alberto Fujimori overturned her sentence, and a retrial was ordered.
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