미국 대통령 버락 오바마, 상원의원 로저 위커 등에게 독극물 ‘리친’이 담긴 편지를 보낸 혐의로 체포된 모창가수 폴 케빈 커티스 (45)이 24일 (현지시간) 석방되었다.
AP통신 등 외신에 따르면 현지 법원은 커티스가 보석으로 풀려난지 몇 시간 만에 그의 혐의에 대해 공소기각 판결을 내렸다고 한다.
<관련 영문 기사>
Charges dropped against suspect in U.S. ricin letters case
U.S. prosecutors on Tuesday dropped charges against the man suspected of sending letters containing ricin to U.S. President Barack Obama and a senator, after a search of his home yielded no evidence connecting him to poisoned letters.
The decision was announced hours after Paul Kevin Curtis was released from custody on bond, the Associated Press and other media reported. The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation revealed earlier this week that after searching Curtis’ home, it failed to find any trace of ricin, device used to make it, or any evidence to prove that he had researched how to produce the poison.
The legal representatives for Curtis also suggested that he may have been framed. They alleged that it is not logical for Curtis to sign the lethal letters with the words “I am KC and I approve this message,” when he had already used the phrase on his Facebook.
The prosecutors said the “ongoing investigation revealed new information” but did not elaborate on the details. According to reports, the FBI is pursuing an investigation concerning another potential connection with the case.
Curtis was arrested last Wednesday at his house in Mississippi, after ricin-clad letters were sent to Obama, U.S. Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi, and a state judge.
No fingerprints or DNA evidence were found on the letters.
According to the FBI’s testimony, authorities have narrowed down the candidates for the sender to 100 people in Wicker’s constituents; they all had the initial KC and lived in an area that would have a Memphis postmark. A member of the senator’s staff had pinpointed Curtis as a person who had sent a letter to Wicker before.
From news reports
(khnews@heraldcorp.com)
