Nation digest 02/10/04

Judge in Peterson trial seals witness, juror list

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. -- The judge presiding over Scott Peterson's murder trial ordered Monday that the witness lists and names of potential jurors remain confidential, despite protests by the media. Judge Alfred A. Delucchi, who said he hopes to begin jury selection in about two weeks, told attorneys at a pretrial hearing that he had "nothing against the press. I have a responsibility here to see that Mr. Peterson gets a fair trial." He ruled that the questioning of potential jurors will be open to media coverage under the condition that the potential jurors' names not be released. He also ordered that the list of witnesses stay sealed.

Three in Oregon terror group get prison terms

PORTLAND, Ore. -- The final three members of a group of Muslim men from the Portland area who tried to enter Afghanistan to join the Taliban army were each sentenced to prison time Monday. They were among six men and one woman accused of conspiring to wage war on the United States. Maher Hawash, a 39-year-old Palestinian, was sentenced Monday to seven years in prison. Ahmed Bilal, 25, was sentenced to 10 years and his brother, Muhammed, 23, was sent to prison for eight years.

Escapee in handcuffs tries to buy bolt cutters

MAGNOLIA, Ark. -- James Cotton looked just like any other Wal-Mart customer buying a bolt cutter at 4:30 in the morning -- until the cashier noticed that Cotton was wearing handcuffs. According to police, the clerk took Cotton's money, gave him the bolt cutter, then called the police. Cotton was caught minutes later Saturday, after he had gone into the bathroom and cut off the handcuffs. Cotton had been arrested the night before by the Haynesville, La., police on charges of battery and possession of a narcotic, but he kicked out a window in a police car and fled, authorities said.

Inmate on California death row wins stay

SAN FRANCISCO -- A condemned murderer whose bid for clemency was denied by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger won a stay of execution on Monday, hours before he was to be executed. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted a request for an 11-judge panel to rehear the case of Kevin Cooper, convicted in 1983 of hacking four people to death. It was not clear when the panel would hear the latest challenge. Cooper claims DNA evidence found at the scene, which matches his, was planted by authorities. He has repeatedly asked for renewed tests, but the courts have balked, saying there is no evidence of tampering and there is overwhelming evidence of Cooper's guilt.

17 hurt when bus veers off icy road into ditch

WOOD RIVER, Neb. -- A Greyhound bus veered off an icy highway and rolled into a ditch Monday morning after the driver swerved to avoid hitting a jackknifed tractor-trailer rig, sending 17 people to hospitals, authorities said. One passenger was in critical condition. Many of the others injured suffered cuts and bruises. The bus, carrying 27 passengers and a driver, was traveling Interstate 80 across south-central Nebraska from Omaha to Cheyenne, Wyo., said Greyhound spokeswoman Lynn Brown.

Jackson accuser's father wants to see his children

LOS ANGELES -- The father of Michael Jackson's young accuser, who has pleaded no contest to child cruelty, said Monday that he wants a restraining order dropped so he can resume seeing his children. "I've been trying to get a hold of them and get in touch with them since 2001," the man said in an interview on CBS' "The Early Show." Last month, a judge refused to lift a 2-year-old restraining order banning him from seeing his children. Jackson has pleaded innocent to seven counts of performing lewd or lascivious acts on a child under 14 and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent, reportedly wine. The singer is free on $3 million bail pending trial.

-- From wire reports