European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 17, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 12 a the stars and stripes sunday May 17, 1992fairness doubted in officer s retrial los Angeles apr the White policeman who delivered the most blows to Black Motorist Rodney g. King cannot be assured of a fair hearing in his retrial on a charge of excessive Force his attorney says. A getting a fair trial in the state of California is going to be problematic a said Michael Stone the attorney for officer Laurence Powell. A getting a fair trial in the county of los Angeles i think is going to be next to  Superior court judge Stanley Weisberg on Friday said there was sufficient evidence for Powell to be retried on a charge of assault under color of authority in the March 3, 1991, beating of King. The charge carries a maximum prison term of six years Powell a Ventura county jury in suburban Simi Valley deadlocked on that charge voting 8-4 in favor of acquittal. Powell sgt. Stacey Koon officer Theodore Briseno and former officer Timothy wind were acquitted of All other charges. The april 29 verdicts touched off riots that left 51 people dead in the los Angeles area and civil unrest in san Francisco Seattle Atlanta and other cities across rival la. Gangs plan meeting to solidify truce Inglewood Calif. Up the crips and the bloods a the two deadliest rival gangs in the los Angeles area a announced Friday that they will hold a convention to solidify a truce and Call for business participation in rebuilding their riot scarred communities. A a in a dressed to show that you can go anywhere you want dressed however you want a said 19-year-old la in belly a 10-year member of the bloods who was dressed in the gangs colors which would usually make him a target of a rivals Bullet. La in belly said he put Down his gun two weeks ago. A the Rcd re a lot of possibilities now a he said. �?o1 just want to  the announcement came at a news conference held at a Church called the gospel night theater. The news conference was attended primarily by sex gang members speaking in favor of the truce forged in the Wake of the recent deadly riots. Four Young men who said they were members of the bloods spoke briefly with reporters following the news conference. For the past week the two gangs have taken several Steps toward Unity and police have noticed a significant decline in gang violence during that time. Gang leaders said the convention to be held at the Church thursday was expected to solidify that commitment and ultimately bring business investment into the areas hit hardest by arson and looting. Economic experts have said owners of Small sized and medium sized businesses would be particularly hesitant to return to areas where close to 2,000 businesses were burned Down or destroyed and 3,000 were looted or otherwise damaged. A we Are not asking for crumbs. We Are not begging a said a former gang member named Hanif. The nation. Weisberg scheduled a hearing for this coming Friday on whether the new trial should be moved out of los Angeles county. He has been criticized for picking the predominantly White Community of Simi Valley for the original trial. The judge chose Simi Valley after an appeals court ordered the Case out of los Angeles county because of political turmoil following Kings beating. Prosecutors Alan Yochelson and Terry White both of whom tried the first Case were named to handle Powell a retrial. Stone said lie May not continue to defend Powell. District attorney Ira Reiner insisted at a Friday news conference that the trial could be held in los Angeles. But if it is moved it should be sent to a similar Urban area he said. The new trial will feature the same evidence with a heavy focus on a videotape of the beating made by a nearby president Reiner said. He refused to say whether he will Call new prosecution witnesses now available the acquitted officers. Reiner also declined to say whether King would testify this time. He was not called to the stand during the first trial. The decision to retry Powell on the one charge was lauded by mayor Tom Bradley and other Black leaders who say they Hope it is the first step toward Healing the riot torn City. But some said it was not enough. Joe Hicks Southern Christian i cad ship conference executive director said change cannot occur unless the Justice department brings criminal charges in the Case. The department is investigating whether Powell and the three others violated Kings civil rights. A we certainly applaud the attempt to bring or. Powell to Justice a Hicks said a but we think that it is Only one part of the Puzzle around this Rodney King situation a others compared Kings beating to the More recent televised beating of White truck Driver Reginald Denny who was attacked in the Early hours of rioting april 2t four Young Black men were charged last week in the attack on Denny. A if that medium videotape is Good enough to arrest four Black men it is certainly Good enough to get Justice for Rodney King a said state sen. Diane Watson a los Angeles. A a we re waiting to see if Justice is indeed Blind and not  a fridays hearing marked the first Public appearance by the 29-year-old officer since the verdicts were issued. The proceedings were held under tight Security with four sheriffs deputies standing guard and bulletproof Glass separating Powell the judge and the attorneys from spectators who were required to file through a Metal Detector before entering. Camera Crews and reporters packed the hallway outside the courtroom waiting for a glimpse of Powell. But the accused officer who is suspended from the Force and remains free on $30,000 bail skirted them by entering and leaving through a backdoor. Quite a haul employees of an Albuquerque ., towing company prepare to move two 1,800-Pound seism saurus Bones from an archaeological site located near san Ysidro  The Bones which Are neck vertebrae Are being transported to the new Mexico museum of natural history in Albuquerque. Convicted Canadian drug Kingpin faces life in prison Gainesville Fla. Up a fed eral jury Friday convicted a Canadian drug Kingpin of . Cocaine and marijuana charges carrying enough prison time to keep him behind bars for life. Montreal native Allan Ross was convicted of conducting a continuing criminal Enterprise conspiracy to import cocaine and marijuana into the United states and conspiracy to distribute cocaine and marijuana. Trial prosecutors David l. Mcgee and Jimmy Hankinson said Ross could face As much As life in prison without parole. No Date for sentencing has been set. . Attorney Kenneth Sukhia said Ross 48, has ties to a number of violent groups including the sicilian mafia and the Irish Republican army. He was arrested last year in fort Lauderdale on charges of importing drugs to the United states. . Marshals and Gainesville police provided extra Security at the courthouse during the trial prompting local authorities to ask the Federal government for $60,000 in reimbursement for police overtime costs. The Case went to the jury Friday after a six week trial. Witnesses identified Ross As the head of Montreal a West end gang whose illegal operations entered in Montreal but spread worldwide. In addition to smuggling and distributing several tons of cocaine Ross was identified by witnesses As being responsible for the slayings of at least five people and the shooting of a Florida Highway patrolman. Witnesses said the killings include the 1984 revenge bombing of a Montreal apartment building which resulted in four deaths and numerous injuries. They also said Ross sent professional hit men to kill David Singer a potential witness against him. During their escape following singers slaying the hit men shot Florida trooper Michael Foti witnesses said. The witnesses included police officers from Spain Portugal Holland and Canada who each described various aspects of Ross illegal operations in their country. The investigation that led to Ross conviction began in 1986. It was conducted by the drug enforcement administration the Florida department of Law enforcement the Fri the Montreal Urban police department the Royal Canadian mounted police and agencies in six other countries