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This is BS. First,Maher never, never confessed to having stabbed himself or faked anything. The alleged confession was written in French, which Maher does not read, and allegedly "signed" by Maher at a time while under the influence of drugs he was receiving for wounds, and administered at the hands of the Monagasque police. Second, Maher's part in all of this was putting a candle in a wastebasket and holding it up to the fire alarm/sprinkler sensors. Maher did what we are all told to do when under attach and police are not at hand: signal the fire department. It was the most expedient way to alert the authorities. More importantly, this did not set the fire that consumed the premises. In fact, evidence from fire reports show that the fire actually started in the basement. Third, there is real speculation as to whether Safra died from smoke inhalation, or from a bullet to the head. Lily, who has already gone thru two other husbands (one died by suicide: he shot himself in the heart, TWICE), had the body disposed of b/f independant autopsy could be performed, which at that time his brothers wanted done. Adding to the attach is the Monagasue keystone cops rescue efforts, which took over 4 hours to get to Safra even after they arrived on the scene. Safra's body guards had been sent home by Lily, Safra's wife, and even after they arrived with the key to the safe closet, they were not allowed in.

What surprises me is that CourtTV and reuters are transmitting the same story that Monagasque courts and Lily Safra have been spinning, there is no mention of the fact that Ted vehmently denies all accusations.

The defense attorneys have apparently changed their theory of the case:

Ted Maher, a former US soldier who had also worked at a Las Vegas casino, is accused of causing death by arson. The 44-year-old originally said two masked intruders had broken in, stabbed him and set fire to the apartment.

Maher dropped the story and admitted starting the fire himself in an attempt to win praise for rescuing his 67-year-old employer.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3005802&thesection=news&thesubsection=world

Unfortunately, the evidence is in. Maher did in fact admit to setting the fire in a wastebasket which he claims was not an attempt to murder his employer. He to this day denies that he is an arsonist based upon his self-serving argument that it was the fault of the police and fire department that the fire spread and destroyed the entire upper floors of the building.

The problem he has with the argument was the lie he told the officials at the time of the fire. His wounds ended up being superficial. The exploratory surgery was more consequential. It was initially believed that "assasins" were still in the building stopping any fire suppression due to the risk to the lives of the firemen and police. This was Maher's doing and he should be held accountable.

Maher would have the Court agree that since there was no intent to kill Safra, rather just to impress his boss, he should not be held responsible for his death. He argues that the death was the result of the failure to extinguish the flames he set.

By any definition he is guilty of the arson and thus responsible for the resultant deaths.

As to the other "mysteries" ie. Safra was shot in the head, the fire having started in the basement, etc, etc, ad nauseum- these were all red herrings designed to save his own butt and were not supported by the evidence. The truth is out, Maher is obviously guilty. All that really remains is to decide how he will be punished.