Two Cuban exiles found innocent in Letelier killing

June 1, 1981

Two Cuban exiles were found not guilty in the 1976 Washington bomb murder of former Chilean diplomat Orlando Letelier and an aide. Guillermo Novo and Alvin Diaz were acquitted on several charges of murder and conspiracy to murder. Mr. Novo was found guilty on two charges of perjury before a grand jury and will be sentenced later.

The two were convicted of murder in 1979, but an appeals court ordered a new trial. It said the government should not have called their cellm ates to testify against them.