Retrial of American Begins in Peru

LIMA, Peru —  An American convicted five years ago of helping plot a terrorist attack used her first appearance in open court Tuesday to proclaim her innocence.

Lori Berenson heard a three-hour reading of charges accusing her of helping leftist guerrillas plot a thwarted takeover of Congress.

Berenson, 31, stood in a cell in court--a common practice in terrorism cases--flanked by two guards. The former Massachusetts Institute of Technology student is accused of “terrorist collaboration” for allegedly renting a house in 1995 used by the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement as a hide-out and training center.

Prosecutors contend that she posed as a journalist with the wife of a guerrilla leader to gain entry to Congress in order to plan a takeover of the legislature to exchange hostages for hundreds of jailed rebels.

Five years ago, hooded military judges convicted Berenson of treason during a secret trial that denied her any semblance of a defense. She was sentenced to life in prison.

In August, then-President Alberto Fujimori overturned her sentence, and a retrial was ordered.