New trial ordered in presidential threats

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Friday, June 21, 2002 | 10 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A Reno man convicted of threatening the life of President Clinton by distributing leaflets and letters suggesting Clinton should be killed, is going to get a new trial.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Thursday overturned the conviction of Zebuel Jackson Hanna, found guilty of seven counts of making threats against Clinton. The court ruled that improper evidence from expert witnesses was admitted at the trial that prejudiced the jury.

Prosecutors said Hanna mailed or hand-delivered letters or other handwritten material to his neighbors, businesses and state and local government offices across the country in 1997 and 1998. He did not send any to Clinton, the White House or any federal agency.

The letters included such things as "kill the beast or wanted for murder, dead or alive.

At trial before U.S. District Judge David Hagen, several law enforcement officers who investigated the case testified they believed the writings were serious threats against the president.