Ted Maher now says "It was an accident"

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[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

[F.J. Mitchell]

Why did he start the fire in the trash can?-I kept looking for an explanation but saw none. I'm sorry- we often agree-but Ted's own words confirm his guilt.

[Registered]

Please do the right thing and apolgize to both of them for your remarks.

What remarks?

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

This is a frame up. Repeating my #165:

Thank you, Tonkin. This stinks....Safra, NY Times, international powermongers...and Ted's "confession." Most of all, can anyone explain the following paragraph in the Court TV article:

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.

Who kept the firefighters away from a "deadly" fire for an hour? What kind of a reason is "police believed the intruders were still inside" for not attempting to rescue Mr. Safra?

Prayers for Ted and the entire Maher family...and for those who continue to persecute Ted that they may see the light.

P.S. Who hasn't taken a picture as bad as the unflattering photo CourtTV chose for this article?

[Registered]

Just curious, but how would you feel if someone accidently set a fire that resulted in the death of your father and sister? Just a hypothetical.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"What remarks?"

See post 217 by Mrs Maher to you regarding your remarks in post 17.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"According to this article, the trial is supposed to be this summer."

You might want to check with Mrs Maher about this "summer trial" status.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"but Ted's own words confirm his guilt."

From the confession that was in French in Dec of 1999.
Ted does not read or speak French, but was drugged and put in a psych ward.
Do you think that kind of confession is really from him?
If the confession were true, why still no trial date after 2 1/2 years?
Just what is Monaco afraid of?

[Registered]

That's what I'm supposed to apologize for? I said (jokingly) that the picture was bad and that he should sue Court TV. (I also think Ted looks like Chad Condit in that pic). But I am certainly not going to "apologize" for making an observation. BTW, how would you feel if someone accidently set a fire that resulted in the death of your father and sister? Just a hypothetical.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Everything should be considered here, I agree, but this case has been strange from the beginning...and Ted Maher has been coerced, physically abused, denied a lawyer, had physical evidence destroyed, witnesses denied testimony...throw in an international powerhouse billionaire and now this article with no one questioning the words and actions of the firefighters and police officers at the scene:

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.

The firefighters waited an hour to rescue Mr. Safra...with the building on fire? This case is too unbelievable, and Mr. Maher's up against a mighty foe.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Well for some reason Mrs Maher took offense to it.
Under the stress of everything I could see why.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"BTW, how would you feel if someone accidently set a fire that resulted in the death of your father and sister?"

Ask me that question after a fair trial, with all the evedence, is held.

[Registered]

I think the hypothetical I posted was reasonable. How would you feel?

As far as Ted Maher is concerned, whenever I see so much conflicting information and odd situations, I have to hesitate in supporting either side.

[trussell]

No apologies until the verdict is in.

You dont need the verdict to be in to understand you have been rude to another human being. You want to call people fools, look in the mirror.

This woman is trying to defend her husband. Something you obviously cannot understand. Hopefully you are single, and no human has to endure your ruthless philosphy in their own home.

G*D Bless You Mrs. Maher, I pray your fight for justice is realized, and the outcome is good for you and your husband.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"I think the hypothetical I posted was reasonable. How would you feel?"

It could have been the replies to your post that upset her.

"As far as Ted Maher is concerned, whenever I see so much conflicting information and odd situations,
I have to hesitate in supporting either side"

My personal take is to have a trial OR let him go.
My "side" is seeing some kind of justice in motion.

[thunderdome]

It took me a very long time of lurking, reading, re-reading and analyzing the many reports on this incident to make some sense out of it. I am convinced that Ted must go along with whatever Monaco wants to give them a face saving out. Once he is back in the land of the free, the truth will come out. Meanwhile, I am happy to see the many people keeping Ted's back covered on the home front. He will be out soon, and he has my family's prayers. Looking forward to hearing about the homecoming party soon. Keep the faith!

Here are some fitting lyrics that go through my head when I read about Ted and family:

Artist Creed Album WEATHERED Song Whos Got My Back

Run…hide
All that was sacred to us
Sacred to us
See the signs
The covenant has been broken
By mankind
Leaving us with no shoulder…
with no shoulder
To rest our head on
To rest our head on
To rest our head on

Who’s got my back now?
When all we have left is deceptive
So disconnected
So what is the truth now?

There’s still time
All that has been devastated
Can be recreated
Realize
We pick up the broken pieces
Of our lives
Giving ourselves to each other…
ourselves to each other
To rest our head on
To rest our head on
To rest our head on

Who’s got my back now?
When all we have left is deceptive
So disconnected
So what is the truth now?

Tell me the truth now…
Tell us the truth now

Who’s got my back now?
When all we have left is deceptive
So disconnected
So what is the truth now?

[MeekOneGOP]

Thanks! Let's hope justice is served. (He is released).

[Mrs Maher]

I appreciate your support in this as well as others. For those that still question this- let me explain to you there is DNA on both bodies to show they were murdered- the DNA EXCLUDES my husband. This will be shown at the trial. I can not go further in detail than this, but look forward to the trial(they are predicting the Fall).

It would be so easy for me to walk away from all this stress with my children if my husband was truly a murderer. Registered-I should hope your spouse would back you up should you be in the same situation and not have someone ignorant of the evidence take shots at your situation.