1.
TGV CARS OUTSIDE COURT
0.04

2.
SV PAN..PEOPLE OUTSIDE
0.07

3.
STV JOSTLING CROWD IN COURTROOM
0.11

4.
LV INT..PRESSMEN AROUND FREED PERSONS
0.15

5.
SV CAMERAMEN AROUND MR. &MRS. VANDEPUT
0.17

6.
SV DITTO
0.24

7.
CU PAN..FROM MR. & MRS. VANDEPUT TO MADAME COIPEL AND BARRISTER
0.32

8.
SV DOCTOR AND WIFE FACE PRESS
0.35

9.
CU MR. & MRS. VANDEPUT
0.39

10.
SV PRESSMEN
0.42

11.
CU JOSTLING AMONG CAMERAMEN
0.45

12.
SCU MR. & MRS. VANDEPUT
0.51



Initials DR/V/MR/ES KC/S/MR/ES



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: PANDEMONIUM AND CHEERING BROKE OUT IN THE COURTROOM AT LIEGE, BELGIUM, LAST NIGHT, (SATURDAY) WHEN THE ALL-MALE JURY RETURNED A VERDICT OF "NOT GUILTY" IN THE CONTROVERSIAL TRIAL OF MADAME SUZANNE VANDEPUT, ACCUSED OF MURDERING HER WEEK-OLD CRIPPLED "THALIDOMIDE BABY".

ALSO ACQUITTED ON CHARGES OF BEING ACCESSORIES WERE HER HUSBAND, MOTHER, SISTER AND THEIR FAMILY DOCTOR.

THE RESULT CAME AFTER SIX DAYS OF COURTROOM ARGUMENT. THE PROSECUTION HAD THE ONLY APPEAL WAS TO REASON; THE DEFENCE APPEALED TO THE COURT'S FEELINGS. ONE OF THE DEFENCE COUNSEL SAID "THEY HAVE SUFFERED ENOUGH, THEY HAVE PAID ENOUGH".

THE 12-MAN JURY ANSWERED "NO" TO ALL THE 11 QUESTIONS THE JUDGE SET THEM TO DECIDE WHETHER THE DEATH OF THE BABY, CORINNE VANDEPUT, BY BARBITURATE POISONING WAS MURDER.

THE JURY WAS OUT FOR NEARLY TWO HOURS WHILE A CROWD OF UP TO 2,000 WAITED OUTSIDE THE PACKED COURTROOM. WHEN THEY ANNOUNCED THEIR VERDICT, THERE WERE SHOUTS OF "BRAVO" AND CHEERS FROM THE CROWDED BENCHES. THE JUDGE ORDERED THE COURT CLEARED, BUT WHEN THE VANDEPUT FAMILY WAS BROUGHT IN, THE PUBLIC AND PHOTOGRAPHERS PUSHED BACK IN AND MOBBED THEM.

MADAME VANDEPUT'S MOTHER, MADAME FERNANDE COIPEL,AND HER SISTER, MADAME MONIQUE DE LA MARK, HUGGED EACH OTHER AFTER THEY WERE RELEASED. THEN DOCTOR JACQUES CASTERS, THE FAMILY DOCTOR, AND THE VANDEPUT FAMILY RECEIVED CONGRATULATIONS, MADAME VANDEPUT SMILED AND SAID: "I WANT ANOTHER CHILD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE." OUTSIDE THE COURTROOM, THE CROWD CHEERED THE FAMILY AS THEY LEFT, THEIR ORDEAL OVER.