(25 Jul 1995) English/Nat
A jury in Oregon is considering its verdict in the case of two British women, accused of plotting to kill a U-S state attorney.
The attorney was investigating the Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh cult, which the women belonged to a decade ago.
Sally-Anne Croft and Susan Hagan fought extradition from England for years before they finally came to the U-S to face the charges.
Ten years ago they'd lived in the U-S on a commune with guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh along with his fleet of Rolls Royces and of other followers.
They're accused of conspiring with nine others to kill Charles Turner in 1985.
Turner, as U-S attorney for Oregon, was leading an investigation into widespread immigration fraud at the commune.
The prosecution's case is based on the testimony of six former Rajneeshees who had cut deals with the government.
Government witnesses said Croft, who managed the commune's finances, supplied money used to illegally buy guns that were to be used to kill Turner.
Hagan, in charge of the Rajneesh Investment Corp, gave a pep talk in support of the Turner murder plot at a planning meeting, witnesses said.
The main physical evidence in the case are five guns found after a lake near the commune was drained. The guns were purchased illegally in New Mexico and were to be used to kill Turner, witnesses said.
Rajneesh left the U-S in late 1985 after pleading guilty to immigration fraud. He died in his native India in 1990.
Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/15d81cbc4066e0a96e7c2cbad90ff8d6
