Ten O'Clock News

[Reporter] The turning point, perhaps, came this morning, when Judge Richard Conan ruled the jury could consider testimony that the defendants had to commit minor crimes in order to prevent major ones by the CIA. In closing arguments, the defense turned prosecution. 'The threats,' said lead attorney Leonard Weinglass, 'was clear and imminent. People were dying, because of the CIA, and the students had to take a stand.' [Weinglass] It's not just a defense of necessity, their actions were not only necessary, their actions were needed; their actions were essential. Those actions were effective. [Reporter] Nervous, and reading from script, Abbie Hoffman called himself the oldest student defendant. [Hoffman] I ask you, is it we the defendants, who are operating outside the system? Or is what you have heard about CIA activities in Nicaragua and elsewhere, meant it is they, who have strayed outside the limits of democracy and law? [Reporter] Prosecutor Diane Fernald has all along said this was a simple case, trespassing and disorderly conduct. 'Don't be convinced this is a CIA trial,' she told the jurors,

and at least Hoffman thought she had scored, when the six jurors came back, unsmiling, only two hours later. He gave the thumbs down sign, and braced for a conviction. [Reader] Will the following defendants please stand and face the jury. [Reporter] ?Jopin Galmamie? and the other defendants stood, while 15 envelopes were opened up. [Judge] What say you Madame Forelady, is the defendant Raymond J. ?Alaney?, guilty or not guilty of the alleged complaint of trespassing? [Forelady] Not guilty. [Crowd cheering] [Reporter] I The first verdict was a tip off, in this joint defense. The celebration began outside, as a judge ordered the courtroom cleared of spectators. Back inside, the verdicts were all the same. [Judge] What say you, Madame Forelady, is the defendant guilty or not guilty of the complaint disorderly conduct? [Forelady] Not guilty. [Reporter] Dismissing the charges, Judge Conan turned the lights out on the prosecution's case. The defendants reveled outside.

[Crowd cheering ] [Hoffman] Proud to be an American, it's good for the country, good for democracy, good for business in North Hampton. This is going to be remembered for 20 years now, this is where the CIA got whacked. [Female speaker] This means that people can find the CIA guilty and it has an effect like getting them on the street, getting them working. [Hoffman] Good luck, good luck Celtics, they're going to need it. [Reporter] Do you think you convicted the CIA, here today? [Male speaker] We absolutely convicted the CIA here, today. There's no question about that. They could not have reached a verdict of not guilty without finding the CIA was guilty of illegal acts. [Reporter] Has there been a conviction of the CIA, here? [Female speaker] I think there's probably a lot of feeling around that that's the case. [Reporter] Here in the CIA on trial locker room, the now former defendants say their next step is to march on CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia April 25th and 27th. And Amy, Abbie, and company, say they'll all take part in a day of

civil disobedience on the twenty seventh. After all, they're on a roll now.