European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 12, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday March 12, 1992 the stars and stripes a Page 5noriega decides not to testify by Larry Rohter the new York times Miami a attorneys defending Gen. Manuel Antonio Noriega rested their Case tuesday after the deposed panamanian dictator told judge William m. Hoe Veler that he had decided not to testify. With reporters present Noriega met with Hoeveler in his Chambers tuesday morning and said he had elected not to take the stand because  presentation would have to be  he added that his attorneys had advised him that his testimony would not be Able to include As he had hoped a political matters issues of the War and the invasion of his country by . Troops in december 1989, which resulted in his arrest. A i am prepared to testify mentally and physically a Noriega told the . District court judge a but based on the Laws of the United states and based also on the in the stars and stripes10 year Sago March 12,1982 a Frank Carlucci Deputy Secretary of defense said the United states would maintain its military presence in Western Europe despite congressional rumblings for a Force reduction or a Complete pull-out.20 years ago March 12,1972 a syndicated columnist Jack Anderson accused former attorney general John Mitchell of lying when he denied knowing about a contribution by the International Telephone and Telegraph co. To the Republican National convention. It was alleged that itt made the contribution in Exchange for a favourable settlement of three antitrust suits.30 years ago March 12,1962 a the British  charged that East German Border police Quot fired without warning on a British military automobile wounding the Driver. It was the first incident in which East German police have shot an Allied soldier.40 years ago March 12,1952 . Jet pilots in Korea turned a huge camouflaged communist Supply base near Sindmak 30 Miles Northwest of the truce Village of Panmunjom into blazing ruins in the most intense attack of the War using napalm. May n w anal a world War ii 50 years ago today 12 march1 a 9 a 4 2 american troops Garrison French new Caledonia and begin building bases to support . Military operations in the South Pacific. The British abandon the Andaman islands off the coast of Burma. Taking advantage of Germany s concentration on the soviet front Britain s Royal air Force is expanding a systematic air offensive against German Industrial and submarine centers Geneva treaty for prisoners of War i would take my right not to  the general is not recognized As a prisoner of War by the . Government. Although Noriega did not mention it his decision spared him from what promised to be a grueling Cross examination. Prosecutors had indicated that they intended to question him about killings of political and military rivals that he is said to have ordered As Well As his ties to leaders of the Medellin cocaine Cartel and other drug traffickers. Noriega faces up to 140 years in prison if convicted on All counts in his cocaine trafficking racketeering and Money laundering trial. Immediately after the defense announcement that it had concluded its Case prosecutors began presenting rebuttal testimony. That phase of the trial is expected to last about a week. It will be followed by closing statements from both sides and the judges final instructions to the jurors. The Case should be in the hands of the jury Well before the end of the month. The defense rested after presenting five weeks of Noriega testimony from 18 witnesses most of them . Drug enforcement administration agents or former aides to the general. At a news conference tuesday one of Noriega a attorneys Frank Rubino said he made it Clear to his client that a certain restrictions have been placed on certain areas of inquiry a thereby limiting the effectiveness any testimony Noriega would offer. A panamanian who was a close associate of Noriega during his years in Power said last week that the defendant and his attorneys Rubino and Jon May had been arguing for months whether the general should testify. The panamanian said that Noriega was a stubbornly insistent in his desire to testify convinced that he could Sway the jury and that Rubino and May were just As Adamant that he should not. Responding to questions from Hock cd or about Noriega a awareness of his rights Rubino said tuesday morning a it was discussed throughout the trial. The decision was ultimately made by the general but after May and i advised  Virginia to let australian group reap record Jackpot but alters lottery rules Richmond a. Up Virginia lottery officials said tuesday that they will award an australian Syndicate a state record $27 million Jackpot even though questions remain about whether its attempt to buy every possible number was Legal under state rules. Lottery director Ken Thorson said changes in lottery rules made it unlikely anyone would Ever be Able to dominate the contest so thoroughly again. At Issue is a regulation that requires lottery players to Purchase tickets at a licensed retail outlet. The Syndicate had paid for Many of the tickets by cashier checks delivered to corporate offices via courier. A it was impossible for the lottery or the claimants to prove positively How the winning ticket was purchased a Thorson said. A therefore we have Given the Benefit of the doubt to the player and will Honor the International lotto funds  the lottery has since clarified its rules on Block purchases. Thorson said the revised regulations will make it virtually impossible for a player or players to Corner All 7.1 million tickets. A we Are confident they wont be Back in Virginia again a he said. A a we be made it practically impossible pragmatically  Thorson acknowledged that a Factor in the decision was the pros Thorson pet of a protracted Legal dispute. A grocery Chain that sold 2.4 million tickets a including the feb. 15 Winner a had asked the lottery for prior approval. That approval did not specifically mention How the tickets had to be paid for in each store. A after consulting with our Legal counsel we determined we did not have a Strong Case a Thorson said. However before the Melbourne based Syndicate can collect the first of its 20 yearly $1.03 million payments Federal and state tax officials will review How . Tax Laws apply to foreign investors. The lottery routinely deducts 20 percent for Federal and 4 percent for state taxes. Thorson said he did not know what the tax implications might be for the Syndicate founded by Stefan Mandel. The fund reportedly used the same buy every number strategy to win 11 lotteries in recent years but those reports cannot be confirmed. Mandel told the virginian Pilot of Norfolk on tuesday that he has won two australian lotteries. In terms of other wins he said simply a a in be made a fair amount of  sex postal clerk admits stealing $10,000 Washington a a former clerk at the House Post office pleaded guilty in Federal court tuesday to embezzling More than $10,000 from the facility. Yvonne m. Welborne 41, of Oxon Hill md., is the third postal clerk to plead guilty to embezzling funds from the House Post office. Welborne admitted stealing the funds Between november 1988 and july 1991, said . Attorney Jay b. Stephens. She also agreed to assist in the Federal investigation of alleged criminal activities at the House Post office. Sentencing has been set for june 4. Edward c. Pogue Iii of Arlington va., and Celia Gutierrez 40, of Silver Spring md., each pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement in Federal court on March 5. A fourth clerk Wendell Magruder 32, of Forestville md., is currently facing trial on one count of embezzlement. Pogue Gutierrez and two other employees of the Post office were charged in . District court on feb. 13 with embezzling More than $35,000 in Money and Stamps. One of the four told postal inspectors that he also sold drugs at the Post office to employees and others. A six member House task Force investigating the Post office will Issue its report by May 30. Buser wins id Tarod race in record time. Nome Alaska apr Swiss born Musher Martin Buser won the id Tarod Trail sled dog race Early wednesday leaving his nearest pursuers hours behind and becoming the first person to finish the 1,159-mile run in less than 11 Days. He reached the historic Gold Rush Community of Nome shortly after 4 15 a.m., some seven hours better than the record time of 11 Days 1 hour and 53 minutes set by four time Winner Susan Butcher in 1990. Thousands of Doodle lined front source 2194 Days of War. W h Smith publishers inc world almanac Book of world War ii. Bison books clip19s1 a Peop Street just a half Block from the Frozen Bering sea As a grinning Buser and his team of dogs came in accompanied by a police escort with flashing red lights. The id Tarod Victory is the first for Buser 33, a perennial front runner who finished second last year after steering his team through a blinding blizzard. This year Buser a Lead had grown so wide during the second half of the race that the contest had generated into a Battle for second place. Trailing Buser Early wednesday were Butcher Tim Osmar Deedee Jonrowe and Rick Swenson last years Champion and the Idi Tarodd a Only five time Winner. They were still about 60 Miles from Nome when Buser cruised across the finish line to claim $50,000 in first place Money. A record 76 mushers started the 20th annual race feb. 29. The Competition named for an abandoned Gold Rush town along the route commemorates a 1925 relay of diphtheria serum to Nome. Weather which in Many Idit rods has proved a critical Factor in the stretch remained relatively Calm and mild toward the end of the race. Overnight lows in the Nome area were in the mid-20s. Buser a wife Kathryn Chapoton and their two Young sons were in Nome awaiting by scr a arrival. A the deserves to win a she said tuesday. A the has worked very hard for  it was Buser a ninth id Tarod and seventh finish in the top 10. Last year he finished two hours behind Swenson after both drove their Way through whiteout conditions. Buser who was born in Zurich took up mushing As a teen Ager and moved to Alaska in 1979. He and his wife a kindergarten teacher own a Kennel with about 70 huskies. In the summer he works As a Fisherman. A the just has dogs that Are trained to go fast a said race coordinator Joanne Potts. A hard Trail cooperative weather and a Lack of new Snow also helped him set a record Pace she said tuesday