US had hijacker name in '99, paper reports

February 24, 2004

American officials were given the first name and telephone number of one of the Sept. 11 hijackers, Marwan Al-Shehhi, in March 1999 by German authorities, but the United States failed to pursue the lead aggressively, The New York Times reported today. That early lead has become an important element of an independent commission's investigation into the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the paper said, because it was a potential opportunity to infiltrate the Al Qaeda terror cell in Germany that was central to the plot.

Florida

14 airport employees indicted in drug sting

MIAMI -- Following a sting operation, 14 workers at Miami International Airport were indicted yesterday on charges of smuggling cocaine and heroin from Latin America to the United States, federal officials said. Thirteen current or former airport workers were charged with drug conspiracy after a four-year investigation spanning at least three foreign countries and three US cities. Authorities arrested a 14th man, but he may have been a victim of mistaken identity, officials said. Officials said undercover agents were able to enlist the defendants to help smuggle drug shipments of up to 200 pounds that authorities planted on planes in Costa Rica, Panama, and Venezuela. (AP)

California Peterson defense loses bid to question judge

REDWOOD CITY -- Scott Peterson's defense lawyers lost a bid yesterday to put a judge on the stand to testify about his decision to let investigators tap Peterson's phones. Judge Alfred A. Delucchi said it would be "contrary to public policy" to force his colleague Stanislaus County Superior Court Judge Wray Ladine to testify. Steven Jacobson, a district attorney's office investigator, testified last week that he was following procedures Ladine laid out when he bugged Peterson's phones. Defense lawyer Mark Geragos said yesterday that because a court reporter wasn't present at Ladine's regular updates on the wiretaps, the defense should be able to question the judge directly. (AP)

Blake gets week to find new defense attorney

LOS ANGELES -- A judge yesterday gave actor Robert Blake another week to find a new lawyer after he and his third defense attorney parted ways because of "irreconcilable differences." Judge Darlene Schempp set a new trial date of Sept. 9. Blake is accused of murdering his wife, Bonny Lee Bakley, in 2001. (AP)