.
NT NEWS
MATT CUNNINGHAM
March 4th, 2010
THERE were celebrations in Darwin last night after Territorian Angelita Pires was found not guilty of plotting to kill East Timor president Jose Ramos Horta.
Angelita's mother Maria cried tears of joy when she was told of the verdict at her home in Darwin's northern suburbs. "Oh my God, I don't know what to do," she said.
"At last justice has been done."
Pires (pictured) had been accused of being the indirect author of an assassination plot against Mr Ramos Horta by slain rebel leader Reinado. But the Dili District Court found there was insufficient evident to convict her.
The court, however, jailed 23 Timorese men for between nine and 16 years over the plot.
Four other men were set free.
Outside the court, Angelita Pires vowed to stay in East Timor and fight for the freedom of Reinado's men.
"I am extremely relieved to be exonerated by the court of any involvement in the events of February 11, 2008," she told reporters.
"My life has been on hold for over two years and it's been an enormously stressful and emotional time for me."
Maria Pires said she always knew that her daughter was innocent.
"I'm so happy. I just want to say thank you to everyone who has supported us," she said last night, holding back tears.
Angelita's brother Antonio, who has led the fight to have his sister released for more than two years, said he was shocked by the not guilty verdict.
"Knowing the way they (Timorese authorities) have been behaving, I wouldn't have expected this," he said.
"But you can't find somebody guilty with the evidence they put together."
Mr Pires said his sister was overcome with emotion when he spoke to her last night.
.
NT NEWS
MATT CUNNINGHAM
March 4th, 2010
THERE were celebrations in Darwin last night after Territorian Angelita Pires was found not guilty of plotting to kill East Timor president Jose Ramos Horta.
Angelita's mother Maria cried tears of joy when she was told of the verdict at her home in Darwin's northern suburbs. "Oh my God, I don't know what to do," she said.
"At last justice has been done."
Pires (pictured) had been accused of being the indirect author of an assassination plot against Mr Ramos Horta by slain rebel leader Reinado. But the Dili District Court found there was insufficient evident to convict her.
The court, however, jailed 23 Timorese men for between nine and 16 years over the plot.
Four other men were set free.
Outside the court, Angelita Pires vowed to stay in East Timor and fight for the freedom of Reinado's men.
"I am extremely relieved to be exonerated by the court of any involvement in the events of February 11, 2008," she told reporters.
"My life has been on hold for over two years and it's been an enormously stressful and emotional time for me."
Maria Pires said she always knew that her daughter was innocent.
"I'm so happy. I just want to say thank you to everyone who has supported us," she said last night, holding back tears.
Angelita's brother Antonio, who has led the fight to have his sister released for more than two years, said he was shocked by the not guilty verdict.
"Knowing the way they (Timorese authorities) have been behaving, I wouldn't have expected this," he said.
"But you can't find somebody guilty with the evidence they put together."
Mr Pires said his sister was overcome with emotion when he spoke to her last night.
.
0 comentários:
Enviar um comentário