Ted Maher now says "It was an accident"

court tv online ^

[Jalapeno]

New Yorker pleads with Monaco court not to prosecute him in arson deaths

Ted Maher, left, could spend the rest of his life in a Monaco prison if convicted of killing billionaire Edmond Safra and a nurse in a fire he set in 1999.

By John Springer Court TV The 1999 deaths of billionaire banker Edmond Safra and a private-duty nurse in a Monaco were a "terrible accident" and should not be prosecuted as intentional homicides, a New York man charged with setting the fire that killed them told an appeals court early this month.   Ted Maher, a 43-year-old nurse who had been on Safra's personal staff, made the claim that the deaths were accidental in prepared remarks he read in a hearing May 3 before three judges. The court is expected to issue a key ruling within weeks which could determine whether Maher goes home to upstate New York soon or if he will spend much of the rest of his life imprisoned in the tiny French principality on the Mediterranean. Edmond Safra A Monaco prosecutor asked the court at that closed-door hearing to uphold his decision to try Maher on charges of arson causing death. Maher's lawyers insist that although the defendant set a fire Dec. 3, 1999, in a wastepaper basket, he had no intention of harming anyone. Prosecutors say Maher changed his story quickly and confessed that he merely wanted to look like a hero in his wealthy employer's eyes when he set the fire, stabbed himself and cooked up a story about confronting two hooded intruders.   Maher's statement before the appeals court, which was obtained this week by Courttv.com, shows his frustration with a criminal justice system that his family claims is making Maher a scapegoat for the failure of police and firefighters to rescue Safra and nurse Vivian Torrente. Both died from toxic fumes spread by a fire inside Safra's fortified penthouse in Monaco.   Before the fire gutted the penthouse, Maher stumbled bleeding from knife wounds into the lobby of Safra's bank building to report the fire. Firefighters, however, were kept from launching a rescue mission for more than an hour after Maher was taken to a hospital because police believed the intruders were still inside.   "Today, I exercise my right to protest ...," Maher, with the support of his lawyers, began his remarks. "I fully realize how politically charged and biased this case has been.  Does this justify a wrongful outcome of justice or to pass it along to others?  Does this allow a blindness to the laws of the country?"   Maher than hit on a point that some of the lawyers on his five-member legal team stressed in arguments to the judges. "Without the intent can there be a crime?  I was involved in a terrible accident, in which I hold myself responsible for, to a point," Maher said. "So much time passed without intervention.  I am no more an arsonist than anyone here. Is an accident a crime?  No, it's not!  And that is my main point. This is and always will be a terrible accident for numerous parties concerned — nothing more or less."   Prosecutor Daniel Serdet could not be reached. Maher's lawyer in Monte Carlo, Donald Manasse, told Courttv.com after the hearing that the defendant was forceful and sincere while delivering his remarks to the court.   "When he speaks for himself he comes off very sincere," Manasse said. "He basically says, 'I'm only a nurse and a father. This is all much great than me and I am very much concerned that this is a political thing.' "   The death of Safra, one of the richest men in the world, touched of a legal battle between his widow, Lily Safra, and surviving brothers. The "brothers Safra," as they have become to be known in the European press, have been trying to get the pre-trial investigation to remain open out of a belief that perhaps Maher not act alone. Lily Safra's high-powered lawyer argued that there is no evidence that anyone other than Maher was responsible for the deaths.   According to Manasse, the prosecutor's argument was that although he believes Maher did not intend to cause the death, he is nonetheless responsible for the consequences of his actions for setting the fire. Serdet argued that Maher should be forced to answer the more serious arson causing deaths charge in criminal court and not the French equivalent of involuntary manslaughter.   If the judges rule that Maher can be prosecuted in criminal court, he could face life in prison if convicted. If the case is tried as a lesser crime in a correctional court, Maher would face only six years in prison. He has already been incarcerated for 30 months.   At the hearing, Maher's lawyers argued that the investigation and statements Maher made to police in 1999 about being attacked by intruders should be nullified on numerous procedural grounds. Manasse said that he argued that the first examining magistrate, Patricia Richet, failed to properly advise Maher of his right to counsel before she interrogated him on the record. The appeals court recently held that suspects should even be interrogated at their initial appearances, only asked if they want to make a statement, Manasse said.   Maher's lawyers also argued that a search of Maher's hotel room was illegal because he was not present and did not appoint a designee to be there. Although Maher's wife, Heidi Maher, was present for the search, Maher did not know that she was in Monaco. Heidi Maher claims that she was kidnapped by agents of Lily Safra and taken to a police station against her will so that her passport could be confiscated and shown to her husband to get him to confess.   Maher has dropped his claim that he was attacked by intruders but his lawyers and wife say that without evidence he intended to harm Safra or Torrente, the more serious charge is neither appropriate nor legal.   "Should the courts keep the arson charges against Ted, I will look forward to having Monaco, not Ted, on trial," Heidi Maher told Courttv.com. "[The defense] has prepared many worldwide experts to come into the trial to prove it was Monaco's police and firemen, not my husband, that killed Mr. Safra and Vivian Torrente. The same policemen that kidnapped both me and my brother to force Ted to confess. My husband was trying to save Mr. Safra and Vivian that night. The evidence clearly shows this. Monaco picked the wrong scapegoat. I will not give up my fight for showing the truth."   The court did not indicate how soon it will rule. A correctional trial — held for the lesser charges — could he conducted as early as July, if the court rules that way. A criminal trial most likely could not begin until September at the earliest.   Michael Griffith, a New York lawyer advising the defense, attended the hearing but was not permitted to address the court. We wanted them to know that if they do hold Ted to the higher charge, it's going to be a longer trial than they expected and we're going to put Monaco on trial," Griffith said. "If that happens people are going to find out that in Monaco it takes three years for an American to go to trial and when the wife goes over she gets kidnapped on the street."   Griffith said he expects a ruling by late May or the first week of June.

Comprehensive case coverage

[redrock]

"At least learn to disrupt with SOME class."

NEVER happen...sinkspur just doesn't have the ability to have ANY class.

Keep up the great work Tonk......

redrock

[Lancey Howard]

Just read your post #141.
That is some brutal stuff.

It seems there are some people here who have invested so much time, effort, and faith in the cause of Ted Maher that they simply cannot bring themselves to believe that maybe, just maybe, Ted Maher is indeed a very sick man.
Sometimes, if you have spent a long, long time reeling, it is a tough thing to cut bait.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"That is some brutal stuff."

Yep, Time Magazine and the NY Times are very brutal.
Same media that told us klintoon was innocent.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"Sometimes, if you have spent a long, long time reeling, it is a tough thing to cut bait."

Yes, some FReepers will always believe Time Magazine and the NY Times.
After all these sources insisted Gore won the election.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Time Magazine and NY Times

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Great sources to believe!

Time Magazine and NY Times

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

So again I ask:
If the "evidence" is so overwhelming, why has Monaco not set a trial date yet?
You just don't understand that is what we are asking for.
OR for Monaco to let Ted go free.
"Innocent until proven guily."

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

The Real Headline from the linked story.
New Yorker pleads with Monaco court not to prosecute him in arson deaths.
Now why do you suppose the headline was changed?
Why does Jim Robinson say NOT to alter actual headlines?
Who's BS'ing who?

[Lancey Howard]

I hope that the Ted Maher prosecution is a complete fame-up, and I hope that those perpetrating the miscarriage of justice are exposed and held to account. I honestly hope that is the case.

And I agree with you that the NY Times and Time (and most other "mainstream" scumbag liberal publications) must always be viewed very skeptically, if they are viewed at all. They lie more than they tell the truth.

Regards,
LH

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"I hope that the Ted Maher prosecution is a complete fame-up,
and I hope that those perpetrating the miscarriage of justice are exposed and held to account.
I honestly hope that is the case."

I know, so do I. Only a FAIR trial will ever result in the truth.
BTW Thank You for your service to our country.

[Lancey Howard]

Only a FAIR trial will ever result in the truth.

I hope a fair trial is possible, and I hope it happens soon.

Thank You for your service to our country.

Likewise, thank you.

[Teacher317]

No, we don't have jurisdiction in Monaco, but wouldn't you want your representatives to at least request a trial? Forgiving murder is hardly the same as requesting that their justice system start working within 2 years. One is moral and just, the other is not.

[maestro]

THIS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, PLEASE, WEAR A "Yellow-Ribbon" calling for Ted Maher's release and joyful return to his family!

Amen,........More Grace and Mercy,.........In Jesus' Precious Name, Amen!!!

BTTT

[SarahW]

That pic makes him look like Condits evil twin~!

[monkeywrench]

Tonk, you are a wonderfully loyal, big hearted, and tenacious person. Bless you.

Fight on.

[Mrs Maher]

This "fool" is my husband. Perhaps you should know all the evidence before jumping to conclusions.

[Mrs Maher]

This image that is spoken about is my husband seeing me for the first time through glass at the prison.

[Mrs Maher]

MONACO DARE NOT ALLOW THESE ANOMALIES TO BE EXAMINED BY THE WORLD MEDIA

>Videotape from the penthouse security camera(s) "missing"

>The police emergency tape from December 3, 1999 "missing"

>The cell phone records for Edmond and Vivian suppressed

>Sonia's three accounts in the fire report contradictory

>The first official Monaco press report stated two intruders

>Initial reports said Mr. Safra was shot twice as was Lily's second husband Alfredo Monteverde who left her two hundred million dollars shooting himself twice in the heart

>Lily changed Edmond's will shortly before his death

>Lily changed their citizenship to Monagasque before his death

>Boaz Bismuth said "the lady" sent the security team away

>"Someone" disconnected the burglar alarm July 1, 1999

>No autopsy report has been released

>Multiple ignition sources reported in the fire report

>"Sudden conflagration" at 6:00 a.m.--an hour after Ted was rushed to Princess Grace Hospital with knife wounds

>False ceilings, a trap door to the attic, special air handling equipment for independent ventilation to Edmond and Lily

>Steel roller blinds controlled separately for Edmond from an electric panel which "failed" during the attack, the blinds made manually inoperable by covering the hand crank access with "decoration"--yet Lily's remained open allowing her "escape"

>Lily had Edmond buried in Switzerland despite his lifelong wish to be buried in Israel--thwarting exhumation?

>Lily wouldn't allow the brothers near the coffin at the funeral

>The police claim Ted knifed himself--yet no medical professional would risk deadly infection by cutting himself over the intestines, and the wound locations made them extremely awkward for Ted to have caused, and the wounds required one hundred staples to close and multiple transfusions--making them far more likely to have been defensive wounds suffered in an attack than self-inflicted, and the police had TWO knives

>The police suppressed and destroyed Ted's original clothing which was slashed and bloody from the attack, provided instead brand-new undamaged and unstained sportswear, clothing Ted did not own and which would have been forbidden to be worn on shift tending Mr. Safra

>The prosecutor claimed Ted was using drugs, but the hospital tests showed Ted negatif negatif negatif for drugs and alcohol

>Lily paid her medical supervisor Sonia Casiano-Herkrath one hundred thousand dollars in a "confidentiality agreement"--and it was Sonia's [contradictory] testimony that is the sole account of Edmond and Vivian's calls and condition

>False confession in French--Ted does not read/write/speak

>Three days in four-point restraint, catheterized, sleep-deprived

>Police kidnap Heidi, steal passport, use to threaten Ted

>Photos and tapes of children used to threaten Ted

>Ted's mail and telephone communication suppressed Consular visits must be prompted by repeated complaint Even his priest's visits have been prevented on flimsy pretext

>Judge D'Instruction Patricia Richet hugged Lily, screamed at Ted, "I know that you are guilty!" tore up children's letters

[Jalapeno]

Respectfully, Mrs Maher,
both the Time and Court Tv articles indicate that Ted

"merely wanted to look like a hero in his wealthy employer's eyes when he set the fire, stabbed himself and cooked up a story about confronting two hooded intruders."

Is it your position that this is not true?

If so, then consider that the articles above indicate that the real argument is not about the issues you stated above, and making up the story, setting the fire and the stabbing are not debated. He is debating that he does not feel an Arson charge is warranted because he never intended to harm anyone and the incompetence/conspiracy of the Civil Servants and others should be blamed for the deaths. This is supported both by his handwritten statement and his letter to Prince Ranier. How do you explain Ted's motives in producing these two documents?

Prince Rainer

Statement

I believe this is what causes confusion amonst many people here.

[maestro]

THIS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, PLEASE, WEAR A "Yellow-Ribbon" calling for Ted Maher's release and joyful return to his family!

Amen,........More Grace and Mercy,.........In Jesus' Precious Name, Amen!!!

BTTT