Jan 29, 2004

Saddam’s trial moved to Modesto
Blunts economic impact of losing Peterson case, locals say

Despite mounting protests from Iraqi Shiites demanding that the U.S. turn over Saddam Hussein to them for trial, interim administrator Paul Bremer III announced today that the former Iraqi dictator would be put on trial this spring in Modesto, Calif.

"We needed to find a place where jurors were likely to give Saddam a fair trial," Mr. Bremer explained to reporters. "In Modesto, almost no one has heard of Saddam because the only news they have been getting for the last year has been about Scott Peterson."

In contrast with the Shiites, who took to the streets to protest the decision, Modesto residents were jubilant at the prospect of hosting the high-profile trial, especially after losing the Peterson trial to San Mateo County.

"The economic impact of losing the Scott Peterson case was devastating," said Ryan McCoy, who owns a café in downtown Modesto and sells gallons of Evian water to visiting journalists. "That's why it's such a good thing that we got Saddam-whoever he is."

But even as Modesto residents celebrated landing the Iraqi madman's trial, legal experts worried that locals here may not know enough about Saddam Hussein to sit on his jury, with many prospective jurors believing that Saddam was somehow implicated in the Peterson case.

When asked the question, "Who is Saddam Hussein?" Modesto resident Jan Clarke, 35, gave a typical response: "Is he the guy who rented the boat to Scott?"

In Baghdad, Bremer said the U.S. was exploring a number of scenarios to compensate the angry Shiites for the loss of Saddam, including moving Michael Jackson's trial to the southern city of Basra.