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  October 3, 2002 19:49:58

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Father Of Slain CIA Agent Blames Lindh

July 23, 2002



20 Years For Lindh


John Walker Lindh (Photo: CBS/AP)



"We have people serving more time in prison for dealing drugs than this. We have executed people in the United States for a lot less than what this man has done."
Johnny Spann



Dig Deeper
• Sentencing:
Lindh's statement in court

• Plea Agreement:
The Lindh Plea Agreement (.pdf)

• Indictment:
The Lindh Indictment (.pdf)

• Motion For Release:
Lindh Motion For Release (.pdf)

• Gov't Response:
Gov't Motion To Deny Bail (.pdf)

• Analysis:
Andrew Cohen On The Lindh Plea Bargain

• Analysis:
Litigating The War On Terror





(CBS) The father of a murdered CIA agent says he wants to testify at a sentencing hearing that American-born Taliban John Walker Lindh was responsible for the killing.

Johnny Spann, father of Johnny Micheal Spann, said in court papers Monday that he was not consulted about the plea bargain that would give Lindh a maximum 20-year sentence. Spann said he expected at least a life sentence.

Appearing on CBS' "The Early Show" Tuesday, Spann said, "The facts of the case are: he (Lindh) joined the al Qaeda. He fought with the Taliban. That organization had a conspiracy to kill Americans and they did in fact kill."

The sentence likely to be given to Lindh "is not just punishment," Spann argued. "We have people serving more time in prison for dealing drugs than this. We have executed people in the United States for a lot less than what this man has done."

The younger Spann tried to interview an uncooperative Lindh shortly before the government agent was killed in a Nov. 25 prison uprising in Afghanistan.

Lindh pleaded guilty July 15 to contributing services to the Taliban and carrying explosives in commission of a felony. As part of the deal, prosecutors dropped accusations that Lindh participated in the revolt.

"The facts of this case reveal that the defendant had the opportunity to withdraw from the conspiracy and warn my son ... that the prisoners were armed and about to ambush him," Spann's court papers said.

"Because I was never notified that a plea bargain was being considered for the defendant, I had no opportunity for any input in the decision to drop conspiracy charges related to my son's death."

Lindh consistently denied that he had advance knowledge of the uprising.

U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III has scheduled an Oct. 4 sentencing hearing for Lindh. Ellis is under no obligation to accept the plea bargain.

"We never thought he would get less than a life sentence," Johnny Spann told CNN. "We just can't stand by and watch this without doing something."

©MMII, CBS Worldwide Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Crosshairs: Taliban
Enter
America's first strike against terrorism focuses on Afghanistan - a mountainous nation ruled by a radical Islamic militia called the Taliban. But more importantly the country is accused of harboring Osama bin Laden, claimed to be the mastermind behind the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the U.S.

Hunting Bin Laden
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See the bin Laden tapes and follow the manhunt.

Video VideoGo

Jim Stewart reports on John Walker Lindh's last-minute plea bargain for 20 years.
Video VideoGo

The family of slain soldier Mark Spann is angered over the Lindh plea bargain, reports Mark Strassmann.

Story StoryGo

American Taliban Pleads Guilty
Story StoryGo

20-Year Deal For Lindh
Story StoryGo

Lindh Lawyers Target Confessions
Story StoryGo

Lindh: In His Own Words
Story StoryGo

Courtroom Tips For The War On Terror
Story StoryGo

Feds Counterattack In Lindh Case
Story StoryGo

American Taliban Gets Lawyered Up




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