Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 16, 1990 TAG: 9003162822
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A/6 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: ANCHORAGE, ALASKA LENGTH: Medium
His lawyers rested their case Thursday without calling him to testify in his criminal trial. Prosecutors also wrapped up Thursday, setting the stage for final arguments next week after six weeks of testimony over the grounding of the tanker under Hazelwood's command on a charted reef in Prince William Sound.
Legal arguments about jury instructions were scheduled today and Monday, with arguments to the jury set for Tuesday.
With jurors out of the courtroom, Superior Court Judge Karl Johnstone questioned Hazelwood about whether he freely decided to give up his right to testify in his own behalf.
Hazelwood responded "yes" several times, but offered no explanation.
It had become apparent in recent days that Hazelwood's lawyers, confident of their case, preferred not to expose him to possibly long and grueling cross-examination.
"Capt. Hazelwood, you have a right to testify, and if you were to testify you would be subject to cross-examination," Johnstone said. "Do you understand that right?"
Hazelwood, seated at the counsel table, answered "Yes."
"Is it your desire at this time not to testify?" asked the judge.
"Yes," Hazelwood responded.
Hazelwood, 43, returned to Alaska from his home in Huntington, N.Y., to stand trial on charges stemming from the March 24 grounding of the Exxon Valdez, a 987-foot tanker that spilled nearly 11 million gallons of North Slope crude oil into waters rich with fish and other marine life.
by CNB