1.
SV MR. AND MRS. HEPPLE AT PRESS CONFERENCE.
0.05

2.
CU MRS. HEPPLE.
0.10

3.
CU MR. HEPPLE.
0.13

4.
SV HEPPLES WITH REPORTER (2 SHOTS).
0.20

5.
CU MR. HEPPLE AND MRS. HEPPLE (2 SHOTS).
0.33

6.
SCU DESAI AND POOLE.
0.41

7.
SV GROUP BEING INTERVIEWED.
0.48



Initials AK/S/WH/BB



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: MR.BOB HEPPLE, THE LEADING PROSECUTION WITNESS IN SOUTH AFRICA'S SABOTAGE TRIAL, HAS FLED TO TANGANYIKA; HE ARRIVED IN DAR ES SALAAM ON THURSDAY NIGHT.WITH HIM WAS HIS WIFE, SHIRLEY, MR.EBRAHIM DESAI FROM CAPE TOWN, AND MR.MICHAEL POOLE.

ORIGINALLY CHARGED WITH THE OTHER ACCUSED, MR.HEPPLE WAS RELEASED LAST MONTH AFTER AGREEING TO TURN STATE'S EVIDENCE.DR.PERCY YUTAR, DEPUTY ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF THE TRANSVAAL, SAID THAT MR.HEPPLE HAD BEEN THREATENED.

AT DAR ES SALAAM, MR.HEPPLE DENIED THE ALLEGATIONS BY DR.YUTAR THAT HE HAD BEEN THREATENED.SAID MR.HEPPLE: "A COMPLETE FABRICATION.I HAVE RECEIVED NO THREATS FROM ANY OF THE ACCUSED OR ANYONE CONNECTED WITH THEM." HE ADDED THAT THE ORIGINAL CHARGES WERE ONLY WITHDRAWN BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT ON CONDITION THAT HE WOULD TESTIFY FOR THE PROSECUTION.BUT IN VIEW OF A NUMBER OF BROKEN PROMISES HE DECIDED THAT HE WOULD NO LONGER GIVE EVIDENCE, AND RATHER THAN GO TO JAIL HE LEFT THE COUNTRY AT THE BEGINNING OF LAST WEEK.

ON WEDNESDAY, THE TRIAL BEGAN OF 10 MEN, INCLUDING NORMAN MANDELA, WALTER SISULU AND THREE WHITES.THE MAIN CHARGES AGAINST THEM ARE THAT THEY CONSPIRED TO OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT BY REVOLUTION MEANS AND BY SABOTAGE.