TRIAL OF SUSPECT FOR MURDER OF IFOR SOLDIER STARTS

( Editorial: --> 6437 ) SPLIT, Oct 7 (Hina) - A trial to a minor accused of murdering an IFOR soldier, British citizen Simon Lee Terence Jeans (25) on September 8, 1996, has commenced in Split's county court. The trial is closed to the public due to the protection of the minor accused, only the charges and the verdict are open to the public. The full name of the minor has not been released except under the initials of D.S. The charges state that on September 8,1996 at the night club "Mali Raj" in Kastel Luksic, near Split (central Adriatic)local young men got into a fight with the IFOR members followed by the minor's attack on the IFOR members outside of the club. The locals used bars, rocks, marble plates, planks and their feet and fists. The charges state that the accused minor hit Simon Lee with a rock on his left temple, in an attempt of murder. Lee died from the injury after nine days. Ante Biuk (21), Denis Duvnjak (20), and Elvis Raznjevic (21) are accused of participating in the fight. The IFOR soldiers were not drunk nor had they provoked the minors, stated the police report. The case was followed by large media attention. (hina) it jn/ab 071442 MET oct 98