Posted on Tue, Nov. 01, 2005
Appeals court voids Cuban spy decision, will rehear case
CURT ANDERSON
Associated Press
MIAMI - A federal appeals court has agreed to rehear arguments on whether five suspected Cuban spies got an unfair trial because of intense publicity, voiding an earlier decision by a panel of judges that the group deserved a new trial.
The Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said in a brief one-page order issued Monday that all 12 active judges on the court would reconsider the case. "The previous panel's opinion is hereby vacated," the order said.
The three-judge panel on Aug. 9 tossed out the convictions and sentences of the Cubans because of heavy pretrial publicity, community prejudice in Miami and inflammatory remarks by prosecutors. That panel ordered a new trial to be held outside Miami.
Now, attorneys for the five Cubans will have to make those arguments again.
"I have to say I'm disappointed that the first opinion was stricken and we have to go before the full panel, but it's a long battle," said Paul McKenna, one of the Cubans' lawyers. "I don't look at is as a setback. I look at it merely that the court wants to hear more about the issue."
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http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/news/breaking_news/13052754.htm