Widow spits at killers

Press, 14 October 1985, Page 6

Widow spits at killers

NZPA-Reuter Newark, New Jersey Eleven freed American hostages are back in. the United States, the widow of the only person killed vowing to testify against the ship hijackers, whose faces she reportedly spat in. Marilyn Klinghoffer, of New York City, said on arrival at Newark yesterday that she would willingly go to Italy to give evidence against the four Palestinians who commandeered the Achille Lauro. During their return flight to the United States from

Cairo yesterday, Mrs Klinghoffer and the other hostages stopped in Italy to identify the four. An American television network reported yesterday that Mrs Klinghoffer had told the President, Mr Ronald Reagan, that she spat in the faces of the four in memory of her crippled husband, Leon, who had been shot dead in his wheelchair and dumped into the Mediterranean. the White House would not confirm that detail. Mrs Klinghoffer looked drawn and pale as she led

the hostages from a United States Air Force transport plane. They then went to a nearby hotel for emotional reunions with family members and debriefing by United States officials, including Federal Bureau of Investigation agents. Also aboard were four people who had been away from the ship on a sightseeing trip when the liner was seized and who escaped the 52-hour ordeal in the eastern Mediterranean. Reporters were kept away from the family reun-

ions and most of the hostages chose to leave the airport quickly without speaking to reporters.

Mrs Klinghoffer appeared distressed as she left the hotel with her two daughters and most reporters let her pass in silence. Most of the freed Americans were elderly couples from New York and New Jersey. Senators from both states were on hand to welcome them at Newark International Airport, 20 minutes by car from New York City.