NEWS BRIEFS
PRETORIA, South Africa
South African judge acquits so-called 'Dr. Death' of all charges
Associated Press
A white judge appointed by South Africa's apartheid government acquitted the former head of its chemical and biological weapons program of 46 counts of murder, fraud and drug dealing yesterday.
Prosecutors, who had accused the judge of blatantly favoring the defendant throughout the 2 1/2-year trial, said they would appeal, and the ruling African National Congress harshly condemned the judgment.
"It's outrageously bad, and it can't be the end of this case," ANC spokesman Smuts Ngonyama said.
As the leaders of the apartheid government's shadowy chemical warfare program, Dr. Wouter Basson, dubbed "Dr. Death" by the local media, was accused of directing the former regime's horrifying and surreal efforts to destroy its opponents.
The program, code-named Project Coast, tried to create deadly bacteria and anti-fertility drugs that would only affect blacks, poisoned opponents' clothing and stockpiled cholera, HIV and anthrax for use against "enemies," witnesses testified during the trial.
Basson, 51, was also accused of siphoning millions of dollars from Project Coast to finance a lavish, globe-trotting lifestyle and of selling drugs.
He denied all the charges.
In summarizing his 1,500-page judgment, Pretoria High Court Judge Willie Hartzenberg, who often ridiculed prosecutors and praised Basson during the trial, said the government utterly failed to prove its case. The judge was appointed by the former apartheid government.
WASHINGTON
Andersen, U.S. Justice Department in negotiations over criminal charge
Associated Press
Under indictment on an obstruction of justice charge, Arthur Andersen LLP said yesterday the accounting firm is engaged in talks with the Justice Department, an acknowledgment that comes amid stepped-up pressure by federal prosecutors.
Andersen's former top auditor on the Enron account, David Duncan, pleaded guilty Tuesday to ordering the shredding of Enron-related documents and agreed to cooperate with the government's probe.
Duncan's plea undermines Andersen's legal position that no one at the firm engaged in intentional wrongdoing.
Andersen spokesman Patrick Dorton said, "We are in discussions with the Department of Justice." Dorton declined to elaborate and Justice Department spokesman Bryan Sierra declined to comment.
The current discussions began last Friday at the request of lawyers representing Andersen.
A federal grand jury in Houston indicted Andersen on March 7 on a single count of obstructing justice, accusing the firm of destroying "tons of paper" at offices in the United States and London, and deleting enormous numbers of computer files on its audits of Enron. The indictment was unsealed March 14.
GOODYEAR
Snack maker Poore Brothers plans additional branded products
Associated Press
Now that their T.G.I. Friday's brand snacks are being carried nationwide by Wal-Mart, Poore Brothers, Inc. executives say they're in talks with holders of several other prominent brand names regarding the launch of additional snack-food lines.
Poore Brothers' chief executive Eric Kufel said his goal is to announce a new branded snack product within the next year.
Like the Friday's brand snacks, which include Potato Skin chips, Quesadilla chips and hot Fire Bites, Kufel said the new branded products will have a long shelf life. That's in contrast with the Poore Brothers-brand kettle chips that are at the company's roots.
Poore Brothers was founded in 1986 by brothers Don and Jay Poore, who made thick, kettle-cooked chips in such flavors as jalapeno, dill pickle and salt and vinegar.
