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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 18, 1996)
Judge imposes limit on Simpson defense SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP) — Hie judge in the OJ. Simpson civil trial today restricted Simpson’s defense, limiting evidence about a police frame-up, evidence contami nation and racism by former Detec tive Mark Fuhrman. But Superior Court Judge Hiroshi Fujisaki allowed Simpson to present these theories under cer tain circumstances, and granted Simpson a major victory in allow ing die video testimony of star sci entific witness Henry Lee. Ruling quickly on a number of motions, the judge made it clear that he would force lawyers to narrowly tailor their cases to only the most important issues in the wrongful death lawsuit against Simpson, and that he would bar extraneous argu ments and excess evidence. The judge, in particular, signaled he would limit Simpson’s attacks on the Los Angeles Police Department. “This is not a case of, ‘Did the LAPD commit malpractice?’” Fujisaki said. Simpson is being sued by the relatives of murder victim Ronald Goldman and the estate of his ex wife Nicole Brown Simpson. Thai is to begin today with jury selection. Simpson was acquitted of murder in criminal court last October. Lancers seek new home, see vague Ak-sar-ben future OMAHA (AP) — The Omaha Lancer hockey team and officials of the Douglas County Fair are looking for new hones, just in case Ak-sar-ben Coliseum is no long^ available. “We’re looking,” said Ted Baer, president of die Lancers hockey team. “I don’t think Ak-sar-ben Coliseum will be around that much longer. I feel like they’re going to tear it down or close it at the very least” Baer said his search was prompted by a Douglas County Board vote last month to reject plans for putting a multi million-dollar coliseum expansion pro posed by Baer and his Mis, Alan Baer, to a public vote. His uneasiness about the coliseum’s future stems from a be 1 lief that the land beneath the structure ; will be used for more-profitable pur poses. County Board Chairman Clare Duda cautioned Bas and others not to act too hastily on what he said were rumors ovs the future of the 68-year-old building. Ted Bas said the coliseum operates at a loss of $650,000 to $800,000 ps year. He claims county commissioners 1 didn’t want to expand coliseum seating from 5,193 to about 15,000because they knew it would close or be torn down, .... « I don’t think Ak-sar-ben Coliseum will be around that much longer.” TedBaeb Lancers president possibly in an expansion of a high-tech office and campus development planned for another portion of the Ak-sar-ben property. Commissioner Mary Ann Borgeson said Baer and others raised “a legitimate concern.” Tim Schmad, president of the Knights of Ak-sar-bqn, said, “We wouldn’t be smart businesspeople if we didn’t think of alternatives” for places to hold the Coronation Ball, River City Roundup and Rodeo and other events. Baer and Racers owner Steve Idelman said Civic Auditorium would not be adequate for their teams. But, Idelman said, he is not shopping around. rvv --— Muslim leader likely chairman for Bosnian three-member presidency SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) — Bosnian Muslim leader Alija Izetbegovic seemed assured Tuesday of becoming chairman of the country’s new three-member presidency as elec tion officials neared the end of their tally. Even before final results were in, foreign envoys were pressing Izetbegovic to work on the institutions meant to steer the country from war and separatism. Despite an increasingly nationalist tone from Izetbegovic’s party, diplo mats are counting on the 72-year-old president’s desire to keep Bosnia whole. The two halves of the country — the Muslim-Croat federation and a Serb republic—will enjoy a high de gree of autonomy. The key to holding Bosnia together will be avoiding gridlock, beginning with the presi dency. The peace plan for Bosnia called for a three-way presidency shared by a Muslim, a Serb and a Croat. The one with the highest number of votes is chairman for two years. With 85 percent of the Muslim and Croat ballots and 79 percent of the Serb vote counted, Izetbegovic had 629,000 votes to 501,000 for Momcilo Krajisnik, a Serb nationalist who cam paigned on the platform to break up Bosnia. Kresimir Zubak, of the main Croat party, had 245,000 votes. The margin between the two top vote-getters was expected to narrow as more Serb polling stations reported, said Nicole Szulc, director of die me dia center where results were being released. Final results are expected to day. Izetbegovic’s team was ecstatic. His party “will certainly pop the champagne tonight,” said Mirza Hajric, a close aide to the Bosnian president. The 1995 Dayton peace accord that devised the elections and postwar in stitutions spells out no specific pow ers for the chairman. Instead, his power is symbolic. As the official who presents Bosnia’s image to the world, the chair man will be die chief target of interna Bosnia’s elections Bosnia s first postwar national elections may determine if the country splits into ethnic republics or remains one nation. The leading Muslim, Croat and Serb candidates will make up a three-member presidency, and the top vote-getter of the three will be chairman for two years, voters could choose one of 16 presidential candidates. L^|ng (^ndjktetes : •'.. ■ .:. I i i Voters also cast ballots Saturday for a national legislature and for regional legislatures in the two parts of Bosnia, the Musllm-Croat federation and the Serb region. Early results As ofTues.9/16 Alija Izetbegovic: 81% of Bosnian Muslim vote Uomcilo Krajisnik: 78% of Bosnian Serb vote Krssimir Zubak 84% of Bosnian Croat vote tional pressure to hold the country to gether rather than break it into ethnic republics. The success of the effort will help determine how manyinternational peace troops will stay beyond the aid of theirmission in December, and for how long. In the election campaign, Izetbegovic’s party warned that if Mus lims did not turn out, or split their votes between competing Muslim-led par ties, Krajisnik could well be the country’s next leader. AP/Wm. J. Castello Krajisnik was a senior deputy to Radovan Karadzic, the Bosnian Serb leader who has been indicted by the U.N. war crimes tribunal. He also was a senior member of die party that led the Serbs throughout the 3 1/2-year war. In his campaign, he advocated die breakup of Bosnia and independence for its Serbs. His election to the presidency of a unified state will pose enough of a problem. But had he risen to the chair manship, things would have been far more difficult, Western diplomats said.