[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Jan. 19



LIBYA/BULGARIA:

GIVE GADAFFI ANYTHING HE WANTS- FAMILIES OF BULGARIA'S NURSES


Families of the Bulgarian nurses sentenced to death in Libya said that
British authorities needed to fulfill the requirement of Libyan leader
Muammar Gadaffi for the exchange of a Libyan in return of the Bulgarian
nurses.

According to the mother of one of the nurses, Libya would not release the
nurses sentenced to death for intentional HIV infection without a ransom.

The relatives of the nurses hoped that Bulgarian, EU and US institutions
would contribute to the release of the sentenced.

Mothers of 2 of the nurses confirmed that their daughters wanted to change
their lawyer.

Deputy Justice Minister Margarit Ganev, who visited the nurses in Libya,
said that everybody had the right to choose defence strategy. He said that
lawyer change was not recommended, as it was going to slow down the trial.

Ganev said that his mission in Libya was to assist the nurses' defence in
the next stage of the trial, instead of changing their minds.

The Bulgarian nurses were sentenced to death on charges of deliberate HIV
infection of 426 children. Libya offered to exchange the nurses for a
Libyan citizen sentenced for the airplane bombing near the Scottish
village of Lockerbie in 1988.

(source: Sofia Echo)