Trial for ‘Baby Doc’?

Trial for ‘Baby Doc’?

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti

A judge will decide whether former Haitian dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier will be tried on charges that include corruption and embezzlement for purportedly pilfering the treasury before his 1986 ouster, a lawyer for the ex-strongman said Tuesday.

A judge questioned the former dictator known as “Baby Doc” in an hours-long, closed-door court session, defense attorney Gervais Charles said. The decision to move toward a trial makes clear that whatever Duvalier’s reasons were for returning to Haiti on Sunday, the government is poised to take the opportunity to seek justice for his 15-year regime, widely regarded as brutal and corrupt.

East Coast storm

MONTPELIER, Vt.

An East Coast storm bringing sleet and freezing rain spread into northern New England on Tuesday, sending cars skidding off roads, knocking out power and making ski-area managers cross their fingers that snow wouldn’t turn to ice at higher elevations.

The storm, which iced over roads all the way down to Delaware and delayed flights for tens of thousands of travelers, was expected to drop up to 10 inches of snow before moving out early today.

Gun in backpack fires; 2 wounded

LOS ANGELES

A gun in a 10th-grader’s backpack discharged Tuesday when he dropped the bag, wounding two students at a high school, including one who remained in critical condition, police said.

A 15-year-old girl with a head wound underwent hours of surgery at Los Angeles County Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, said Dr. Gail V. Anderson Jr. A 15-year-old boy was in serious condition with neck and shoulder wounds.

Both teens were hit by the same bullet, Los Angeles deputy police chief Patrick Gannon said.

Congress tones down rhetoric

WASHINGTON

Born of bloodshed, a self-proclaimed Age of Civility dawned in Congress on Tuesday. Republicans and Democrats of the House spoke without angry shouts and debated legislation to repeal the nation’s year-old health- care law without rancor.

By unspoken agreement, manners mattered, although there were few overt references to the reason — the shooting rampage in Arizona 10 days ago that left six dead, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords wounded and lawmakers of both parties stunned.

China toll dodger’s life term overturned

BEIJING

Chinese state media say authorities have overturned the sentence of life in prison for a farmer who evaded highway tolls.

The China Daily newspaper said today that prosecutors in the central province of Henan confirmed that the case against Shi Jianfeng had been sent back to police for more investigation.

Associated Press