Nation briefs 4/21/06

Moussaoui's defense closes its case in trial

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Defense lawyers closed their case for sparing Zacarias Moussaoui's life Thursday after the government admitted it had no evidence that he and would-be shoe bomber Richard Reid were to have joined in a hijacking as part of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, as Moussaoui claims. Prosecutors then opened their rebuttal case with testimony from psychiatrist Raymond Patterson, who has examined Moussaoui and disputes claims of doctors summoned by the defense that the terrorist conspirator is schizophrenic. In its last arguments, the defense introduced a statement that was agreed to by the government and presented to the jury considering whether Moussaoui should be executed or imprisoned for life. It said there was no information indicating al-Qaida had instructed Reid to work with Moussaoui on a terrorist operation.

Japanese World War II soldier found in Ukraine

MORIOKA, Japan -- A former Japanese soldier was reunited with relatives Thursday, the first time he had seen them since he went off to fight for the emperor more than 60 years ago. Ishinosuke Uwano, 83, and his brother Ushitaro Sadate, 80, looked at each other for a few seconds and then hugged tightly, patting each other's backs. Uwano, who was believed killed in World War II and recently surfaced in Ukraine, is in Tokyo for a 10-day visit. He was in an Imperial Army force occupying Russia's Sakhalin island when the war ended in August 1945 and was last reported seen there in 1958. He said Wednesday he had not been able to return to Japan earlier "due to the former Soviet regime" in Ukraine. It was not clear how he ended up in Ukraine.

Report: Doctors admit failure in treating Sharon

JERUSALEM -- Doctors admitted making a mistake when they treated then-Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon with large doses of blood thinners after a mild stroke, according to a TV report broadcast Thursday. Sharon has been comatose since suffering a massive stroke on Jan. 4. Channel 2 TV quoted doctors who treated Sharon at Jerusalem's Hadassah Hospital as saying the anticoagulants given him after a minor blood clot two weeks earlier might have caused the debilitating hemorrhagic stroke. The TV station broadcast brief excerpts of the investigative report on Thursday, promising fuller versions today and again next week. The hospital strongly denied the report. It said in a statement that the interpretation that doctors admitted a mistake was "in the imagination of the reporter." The statement said the hospital has the full recordings of the interviews with the doctors, who said "the elements leading to the decisions and treatment were correct, and they would repeat them if needed."

Friends, family say goodbye to slain girl

PURCELL, Okla. -- Jamie Rose Bolin, the 10-year-old girl whose body was found in the apartment of a man who authorities said intended to eat her corpse, was remembered Thursday as a friendly child who enjoyed watching movies, singing and sewing. "Maybe heaven needed another rose to add to its bouquet," pastor Duane Elmore said to about 1,000 people attending the funeral in the Purcell High School gymnasium. "It only took her 10 years to earn her wings." Members of Jamie's Girl Scout troop wept during a video presentation chronicling moments in her life, including clowning around with friends. Kevin Ray Underwood, 26, is charged with first-degree murder in Jamie's death and prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty. A judge has entered a not guilty plea for Underwood.

-- From wire reports