The murder trial of three Arab terrorists who attacked an El Al airliner at Zurich airport last Feb. 18 is scheduled to open on Nov. 27 in a Zurich district court sitting in Winterhur. Some 200 journalists have applied for accreditation to the trial which has already brought threats from Arab groups.
The Arabs claim that the Swiss conducted their pre-trial investigations unfairly. The Arab defendants, two men and a woman, were formally charged with murder in the death of Yoram Peress, an Israeli pilot trainee who died of wounds he suffered in the attack. Also attracting wide attention is the forthcoming trial of Mordechai Rachamim, an El security guard who gunned down a fourth Arab terrorist. Mr. Rachamim, who is free on bail, faces a charge of murder under extenuating circumstances which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment. The three Arabs face life sentences.
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