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HijackingAfter a 25-minute pause, a voice from the cockpit said the Greeks would be released, but warned against asking for the release of anyone else. “Otherwise we will destroy your control tower.’’The independent Beirut newspaper an-Nahar said Robert C. McFarlane, President Reagan’s national security adviser, was expected to fly to Beirut within 48 hours. McFarlane already has spoken to Berri byphone.today that three crew members were still aboard the plane as well as some passengers. Reporters in the control tower today said they saw three bearded men in the cockpit of the plane, and they saw the pilot, John L. Testrake of Richmond, Mo., lean out the window.Berri, who is attempting to negotiate a settlement, also was quoted as saying the hostages would be safe as long as he was in control. Berri told CBS the hijackers were relatives and friends of the 700 Shiites being held by Israel.Two young gunmen seized control of the jet soon after it left Athens on Friday, bound for Rome. They released most of the passengers and crew during stops in Beirut and Algiers, Algeria.Berri has said the hostages are now under Amal guard in west Beirut.Before the latest release, the State Department said it believed a total of 43 people — 42 Americans and a Greek — were still held hostage, including a group with “Jewish-sounding” names reportedly taken off the plane during an earlier stop in Beirut.IN MADRID, Spain, court sources said the trial of two Shiites whose release is being sought by the extremists would go on as scheduled Wednesday. They are accused of wounding a Libyan diplomat in the Spanish capital last September, and the prosecution is asking for 36-year prison sentences for each.Israeli officials have indicated willingness to free the Shiite prisoners in response to a public request from Washington, but the Reagan administration says Israel must make the decision.Spain has said it will not release the two Shiites, Mohammed Rahir Abbas Rahal and Mustafa Ali Jalil.EMPHASIZING Israel’s promise to free the Shiite prisoners eventually, presidential spokesman Larry Speakes said Monday, “If the hijacking situation were resolved, then that would certainly put us back at status quo and seemingly put the Israelis back in position to proceed with their announced plan.’’A warship cruised near Beirut’s Mediterranean coast early today, but its identity could not immediately be determined. Shiite militiamen fired volleys of anti-aircraft guns at the ship, but the vessel was out of range.U.S. officials say Berri is the key to freeing the Americans, but the administration appeared resigned to the possibility of a long siege. “It could be (a long time). It might take time,’’ the official said. “We’re willing to be patient.”Reporters using binoculars said the ship appeared much bigger than the Israeli gunboats that sometimes patrol the coast.Just before midnight, after the jet moved to a spot near the airport’s fuel tanks, the hijackers acknowledged in a radio message that the captain remained at the controls of the Boeing 727.The U.S. Navy on Monday identified the man killed by the hijackers on a previous stop in Beirut as 23-year-old frogman Robert Dean Stethem of Waldorf, Md. Stethem’s body was identified at the U.S. Air Force base in Torrejon, Spain.The plane refueled late Monday, but one of the hijackers said the fuel was for air conditioning and lights on the plane. Most of the militiamen or troops who had guarded the plane in past days were absent.Navy officials said Stethem’s body would be returned to Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington late today.AIRPORT OFFICIALS told the Associated PressA U.S. aircraft carrier battle group and a Marine amphibious unit have been ordered into the eastern Mediterranean, said a Pentagon official who spoke only on condition of anonymity. He said the action was precautionary.Tickets still leftfor benefit shows‘Twilight Zone’ trial setA limited number of tickets remain for Friday’s “Trumpet in the Land” benefit performances by country music personality Boxcar Willie in the Schoenbrunn Amphitheater at New Philadelphia.Shows are scheduled for 6 and 8:30 and tickets may be purchased at Bassetti’s Restaurant, the Tuscarawas County AAA and Schwartz-Kline’s at New Philadelphia, the Town House at Stras-burg, The Clothes Line at New-comerstown. Twin City Pharmacy at Dennison and Hostetler General Store at Sugarcreek.LOS ANGELES (AP) — Director John Landis and four codefendants will go on trial next January for involuntary manslaughter in the fatal “Twilight Zone” helicopter crash, authorities said Monday. Superior Court Judge Aurelio Munoz, who sentenced actor Dan Haggerty in April for selling cocaine, was named the presiding judge. The trial date was set for Jan. 20, 1986, Deputy District Attorney Gary Kesselman said. Pretrial hearings were scheduled for September. Landis and the others are charged with involuntary manslaughter in the July 1982 deaths of actor Vic Morrow, 53, and two child actors — Myca Dinh Le, 7, andRenee Chen, 6.‘Mercy’ killer may be freedAll seats are $8 and tickets may also be reserved by calling the “Trumpet in the Land” office at 339-1132. In case of rain, the showswill be moved to Dover High auditorium.TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A 75-year-old man serving a life sentence for fatally shooting his ailing wife could be released as early as next month if state officials decide to waive clemency regulations. Gov. Bob Graham and his Cabinet meet Tuesday and are expected to decide whether regulations should be waived in order to grant clemency to Roswell Gilbert of Fort Lauderdale. Gilbert was convicted May 9 of murdering his 73-year-old wife, Emily, who was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and a degenerative bone ailment. The couple had been together for more than 50 years, and Gilbert had contended he shot his wife to free her from her suffering.
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Dover Times Reporter
Dover, Ohio, US
Tue, Jun 18, 1985
Page 3
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