[SamAdams76]

Bill Maher, the guy who did Politically Incorrect is going to jail? What did he do?

[Sungirl]

Hello?

[Dave S]

Who the hell is Maher? Does he have a first or last name and why should I care. If you are going to post, why dont you think of the reader? Otherwise, stick to email with your closest cadre of in-folk.

[oldvike]

I didn't even realize he was on trial. I thought he had admitted to setting the fire some time ago.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Too bad, so sad.

[agitator]

ping

[finnman69]

If you are going to post get the facts correct.

Nurse Faces 12 Years for Monaco Death
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20021202/ap_on_re_eu/monaco_banker_death_2

By JOHN LEICESTER, Associated Press Writer

MONTE CARLO, Monaco (AP) - Monaco's chief prosecutor demanded a 12-year prison sentence Monday for American male nurse Ted Maher for the 1999 arson death of his billionaire employer, Edmond Safra.



The prosecutor, Daniel Serdet, said Maher had set the fire in Safra's luxurious Monaco apartment that led to the asphyxiation deaths of the banker and another of his nurses, Vivian Torrente.


"He directly caused the deaths of Mrs. Torrente and Mr. Safra," Serdet said. "He trapped the victims."


Maher's high-profile trial on charges of arson leading to death ended after closing arguments Monday, with a verdict expected in the evening. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted.


The defense said Maher — who acknowledges setting the fire — did not intend for Safra and the nurse to die. His intention was merely to trigger the fire alarm in order to pose as Safra's savior in a rescue.


"Stupidity is reprehensible, but it is not a crime," said Sandrine Setton, one of his defense lawyers, who argued that the charge against Maher should be reduced to involuntary manslaughter, a charge that carries a maximum six years in prison.


"Condemn Theodore Maher for his lies, condemn Theodore Maher for his moral betrayal, condemn Theodore Maher for his faults," Setton said. "Do not condemn him for a crime he did not commit."


Maher has been held in Monaco's prison for the last three years.


The fire and trial have been a sensation in Monaco, which prides itself with providing a safe, security and luxurious environment for the rich and famous in this Mediterranean enclave.


For most of Monday's session, Maher sat still in the dock, looking gaunt and tired as he listened to a translation of the proceedings from French into English. Toward the end of the day, he gave a tearful final word in his own defense.


He called Safra "the best employer I ever had," and said he did not mean to cause his death or the death of the nurse.

"What's happened is and always will be a terrible accident," said the former Green Beret, reiterating earlier testimony.

Maher's wife was in court, as was Safra's widow.

Safra, the 67-year-old founder and principal stock owner of the Republic National Bank of New York, had Parkinson's disease (news - web sites) and required constant care.

He paid Maher $600 a day. Maher, originally from Auburn, Maine, told prosecutors it was "the most beautiful job" he had ever had.

But Maher also felt that Safra's chief nurse belittled him and he feared that he might lose his job. Just six weeks after arriving in Monaco, he hatched the idea of setting the fire to ingratiate himself with his boss and earn a promotion.

In testimony, Maher called the Dec. 3, 1999 blaze a "terrible accident" and said he never meant to harm his employer.

Lawyers for Safra's widow, Lily, however, say Maher should be judged for his actions, not his intentions.

On Monday, the prosecutor described how Maher cut himself with a knife and then set a fire in a wastepaper basket. He called for rescue and told authorities that two masked intruders were in the apartment.

But rather than extinguish the fire, Maher let it spread, the prosecution charged, leading to the two deaths. Prosecutors also said that his tale about intruders delayed the work of firefighters to control the blaze.

Maher's defense team is worried that Monaco, which only has a small, seaside jail, will send him to neighboring France to serve out his sentence if he is convicted. French prisons are extremely overcrowded.

[finnman69]

American nurse Ted Maher, right, talks with his American lawyer Michael Griffith at Monaco's courthouse Thursday Nov. 28, 2002, during his trial for the arson death of his billionaire employer Edmond Safra on Dec. 3, 1999. Authorities are seeking life in prison for Maher, who claims he never expected the fire he started in a small wastebasket in Safra's luxury Monaco penthouse to rage out of control and kill Safra and another nurse. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)

[PAR35]

Here are some links with background, unless someone else has posted them while I was looking them up:

Monaco Seeks Long Jail Term for Safra Nurse

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/799108/posts

three Days of Reports: Court Prayer Session Held, Safra's Wife and Brother Testify,(Ted Maher)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/798300/posts

Arson death case will put Monaco's reputation on trial (UK TIMES & TED MAHER ALERT)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/792767/posts

[RabidBartender]

Man, I dislike that Bill Maher. Hopefully he'll meet some 'incorrect' people in the prison shower.

[finnman69]

Does this mean no more stupid Free Ted Maher threads on FR?

The guys set the fire but he did not mean to kill anyone? Since when is that ok on FR?

[Mixer]

Tough Crowd!

[finnman69]

Maher can catch up with a good Stephen King book now with all the time on his hands.

[Jalapeno]

I've been following the trial all last week. Here are newswire stories I have posted:

• Monaco Seeks Long Jail Term for Safra Nurse
• three Days of Reports: Court Prayer Session Held, Safra's Wife and Brother Testify,(Ted Maher)
• SAFRA GUARD CLAIMS COP BUNGLE LED TO FIRE DEATH (Ted Maher Alert)
• Arson death case will put Monaco's reputation on trial (UK TIMES & TED MAHER ALERT) (Mad Ivan)
• The criminal defense lawyer (Michael Griffith) discusses his client Ted Maher
• American (Ted Maher) to stand trial in November for deadly Monaco fire
• American nurse (Ted Maher) on trial in billionaire's death says it was an accident

[Saundra Duffy]

But what I want to know is: How many years has Gary Condit been married to THAT woman?

[E.G.C.]

MONACO IS A POLICE STATE!!!!!!BOYCOTT MONACO!!!!!!

[Kaafi]

Is he gonna be in jail for another 7 years?
He already been there for 3 years, so it should be deducted from his penalty.

[tracer]

FWIW, some clever soul added several keyowrods to the few factual ones I posted. For a story that many contend is of no import, a lot of folks here seem to be quite interested. Enjoy......

[cake_crumb]

I wrote to Amesty International about him several months ago, requesting information on whether they were taking any action on his behalf. They emailed me back (they ALWAYS email me back - I gotta give them that - but they're usually in a snit for some reason *GRIN*).

My original email:

Subject: Ted Mahar, Monaco

I've been searching Amnesty International's site for word on any actions possibly being taken by Amnesty International, on behalf of Green Beret veteran and neonatal nurse, Ted Mahar, who has been held in Monaco, without a trial, since the assassination of millionaire Edmond Safra in December, 1999.

It is my understanding that there is no evidence to convict Mr. Mahar, and that his "confession" was given under duress and also possibly under the influence of drugs.

Mr. Mahar has undergone both physical and psychological torture.

Has Amnesty International in the past, or does Amnesty International intend in the future, to work on Ted Mahar's behalf and hopefully obtain his freedom?

Sincerely, (me)

Their answer:

Amnesty works against torture, wherever it occurs. The case itself, though, would probably not be something AI would take up (we are not usually involved with criminal cases, even when someone might have been wrongfully convicted).

thanks for writing us about this

bross@aiusa.org

...Note to All: remember this reply when AI says anything else about the prisoners at Gitmo.

[Jalapeno]

Las Vegas Sun:

American Convicted in Monaco Killing

By JOHN LEICESTER

ASSOCIATED PRESS

MONTE CARLO, Monaco- An American male nurse was convicted Monday in the 1999 arson deaths of billionaire banker Edmond Safra and a nurse, and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Ted Maher was convicted of arson leading to death. The fire in this wealthy Mediterranean enclave also killed one of Safra's other nurses, Vivian Torrente.

The prosecution had requested 12 years in prison for Maher in closing arguments earlier Monday. The charges carried a maximum penalty of life in prison.

"He directly caused the deaths of Mrs. Torrente and Mr. Safra," said head prosecutor Daniel Serdet. "He trapped the victims."

The defense had said Maher - who admitted setting the fire - did not intend for Safra and the nurse to die. His intention was merely to trigger the fire alarm and pose as Safra's rescuer.

"Stupidity is reprehensible, but it is not a crime," Sandrine Setton, one of the defense lawyers, said in closing arguments.

Setton argued the charge against Maher should be reduced to involuntary manslaughter.

Maher has been held in Monaco's prison for the last three years.

The fire and trial have been a sensation in Monaco, which prides itself with providing a safe, security and luxurious environment for the rich and famous in this Mediterranean enclave.

For most of Monday's session, Maher sat still in the dock, looking gaunt and tired as he listened to a translation of the proceedings from French into English. Toward the end of the day, he gave a tearful final word in his own defense.

He called Safra "the best employer I ever had," and said he did not mean to cause his death or the death of the other nurse.

"What's happened is and always will be a terrible accident," said the former Green Beret, reiterating earlier testimony, in the hours before the verdict.

Maher's wife was in court, as was Safra's widow.

Safra, the 67-year-old founder and principal stock owner of the Republic National Bank of New York, had Parkinson's disease and required constant care.

He paid Maher $600 a day. Maher, originally from Auburn, Maine, told prosecutors it was "the most beautiful job" he had ever had.

But Maher also said Safra's chief nurse belittled him and he feared losing his job. Just six weeks after arriving in Monaco, he hatched the idea of setting the fire to ingratiate himself with his boss and earn a promotion.

In testimony, Maher called the Dec. 3, 1999, blaze a "terrible accident" and said he never meant to harm his employer.

Lawyers for Safra's widow, Lily, say Maher should be judged for his actions, not his intentions.

On Monday, the prosecutor described how Maher cut himself with a knife and then set a fire in a wastepaper basket. He called for rescue and told authorities that two masked intruders were in the apartment.

But rather than extinguish the fire, Maher let it spread, the prosecution charged, leading to the two deaths. Prosecutors also said that his tale about intruders delayed the work of firefighters.