Posted on 04/08/2005 1:06:25 PM PDT by Zeroisanumber
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Eric Rudolph has agreed to plead guilty in the deadly 1996 bombing at the Atlanta Olympics and three other blasts, The Associated Press learned Friday. A person who was briefed by the Justice Department on the agreement said Rudolph would receive four life sentences under the deal. Rudolph had faced a possible death sentence. The source spoke on condition of anonymity.
A Justice Department official in Washington, also speaking on the condition of anonymity because the agreement has not been formally announced, confirmed the plea agreement. An announcement was expected later Friday.
Neither U.S. Attorney Alice Martin or defense lawyer Bill Bowen immediately returned calls seeking comment.
In addition to the Olympic bombing, Rudolph also has been charged with setting off a blast in 1998 at an Alabama abortion clinic that killed an off-duty police officer and critically injured a nurse. Jury selection in that case began this week.
He is charged in two other 1997 bombings in Atlanta — one at a lesbian bar and one at a building that housed an abortion clinic.
One woman was killed and more than 100 people were injured in the Olympic bombing, which tore through Olympic Centennial Park during the Summer Games.
Word of the deal came amid reports that federal agents have been in western North Carolina this week detonating explosive materials in the region where Rudolph spent more than 5 1/2 years as a fugitive.
He was captured in 2003 near a grocery store trash bin in Murphy, N.C.
Yeah, too bad for that, and since there will be no trial, anyone who may have helped him may not be flushed out. Did anyone help him survive in the woods? Did anyone help him make bombs or act as getaway driver?
Sort of like the Unabomber- no trial, and we don't know how he machined the metalware or soldered the wires in his unelectrified cabin.
Since he is taking a deal for four life sentences, there is no reason for him to not plead guilty to an additional bombing. Without a trial, how can we have any confidence that he perpetrated all of these bombings, instead of just two or three of them?
I wonder how the pimps of the media and the election industry will restore the reputation of RICHARD JEWELL?
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