An American charged with plotting to overthrow the Cuban government went on trial Thursday in Havana. His U.S. attorney said he would seek a meeting with President Fidel Castro in an attempt to protect his client's life.
Walter Van der Veer was taken Thursday morning into the court building near the former Capitol in central Havana, reporters at the scene said by telephone. The lawyer sent from Miami to represent him, Dominick Salfi, arrived about an hour later. The proceedings were closed to the press.Salfi, who's attending as an observer, said it will be the first time he has seen Van der Veer, who faces a possible death penalty. A court-appointed Cuban lawyer represents Van der Veer.
The 52-year-old Miami resident was arrested in August 1996. He is charged with crimes against state security: gathering materials for Molotov cocktails and plotting attacks against police and tourists.
Cuban officials claim Van der Veer distributed anti-government leaflets during a visit to Havana in February and March 1996 and was carrying a commando knife and U.S. military garb when he was arrested.
Van der Veer is a member of a militant Cuban exile group, the Comandos L. His attorneys, however, said he was in Cuba to distribute food and toys from a Miami humanitarian group and Bibles.
Salfi, a former judge and prosecutor, was the only member of a U.S. legal team cleared by the Cuban government to attend the trial of Van der Veer.
"I will be an observer, but I will be as active as I can to find a solution," Salfi said before leaving for Cuba. "We're going to have to be very creative.
"There is no evidence that he has hurt anybody," Salfi said Wednesday. "There is no evidence he ever had on him any bombs or other devices."
Cuban prosecutors said last month they would seek the death penalty. But privately, government officials said they doubt he will be sentenced to death.
Salfi said he would seek a meeting with Castro to petition him to spare Van der Veer's life or seek a pardon if he is convicted.
The head of Van der Veer's legal team, Ellis Rubin, and his lawyer son, Guy, were denied visas to travel to Cuba.