Jury Absolves Government in Waco Case

July 15 -- After only 2 1/2 hours of deliberations, the jury acting as an advisory panel in the wrongful death suit stemming from the 1993 siege at Waco said that the government bears no responsibility for the deaths of the Branch Davidians.

The jury’s decision will now be taken under advisement by U.S. District Judge Walter Smith, the federal judge presiding over the case who will render the final verdict.

In a statement, U.S. Justice Department officials said they were pleased with the jury’s decision and felt exonerated.

“This terrible tragedy was the responsibility of David Koreshand the Branch Davidians, not the federal government,” thestatement said. “We are pleased the juryaffirmed that view.” FBI Director Louis Freeh said the jury’s conclusion lifted “anenormous burden” from law enforcement officers involved with the siege.

“There has been a lot of speculation, misinformation andsecond-guessing over the past seven years,” Freeh said in astatement. “I am grateful that this trial and other actions bythe court allowed the allegations to be aired and the facts to beproved.”

Fiery Tapes Turn CaseIn the $675 million suit, which consolidated nine civil cases filed against the government, surviving Branch Davidians and relatives of the deceased claimed that the government was responsible for deaths that occurred during botched raids on Feb. 28, 1993 and April 19, 1993, the final day of the 51-day standoff at the compound.

The plaintiffs contended that the FBI agents fired at sect members during the final hours of the siege at Waco, preventing them from escaping a fire that started during an FBI tear-gassing operation intended to end the standoff. Branch Davidian sect leader David Koresh and at least 80 of his followers died.

The government denied responsibility in the deaths, saying the Davidians were primarily responsible for the blaze and also argued that agents did not fire at the Davidians in the final hours of the siege. During the nearly monthlong trial, government attorneys presented audiotape that captured Branch Davidians talking about lighting a fire before the blaze erupted on the final day of the siege.