Ben Barka Trial Reopens

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31349, 20 April 1967, Page 15

Ben Barka Trial Reopens

(N.Z. Preu dun.—Copyright) PARIS, April 19. The Moroccan security chief, Lieutenant-Colonel Ahmen Dlimi, denied in Court yesterday that he had anything to do with the kidnapping of the Moroccan Opposition Leader, Mehdi Ben Barka, the Associated Press reported. Dlimi, who turned himself tn to French police last October was testifying in the second running of the Ben

Barka trial, which opened yesterday. It was Dlimi who interrupted the first trial in its last hours by appearing to testify and attempt to clear his name. Dlimi, who has been in Saute prison since he surrendered, read from a prepared statement which said he was speaking in the double capacity of a lieutenant-colonel in the Moroccan army and a former officer in the French army. He declared: “I engage my honour as an officer in saying that I am innocent.” Dlimi is accused of taking

a leading role in organising and executing the kidnapping of Ben Barka from a Paris street 18 months ago.

Ben Barka has not been seen since and presumably is dead. Six others are on trial with Dlimi. The case is expected to run about two months.

Trumpeter Dies. Henry (Red) Allen, for many years a leading Dixieland jazz trumpeter, died in hospital in New York on Monday night, aged ’M.—New York, April 19.