Absentee Defendant in Trial of Accused Papal Attacker Dies
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ANKARA, Turkey — Bekir Celenk, a reputed Turkish mobster and absentee defendant in the Rome trial of the accused attacker of Pope John Paul II, died Monday of a heart attack, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported.
The dispatch said Celenk suffered a heart attack at the Mamak military prison and died on the way to the Gulhane Military Hospital.
Celenk, 51, was standing trial here on charges of arms and drugs smuggling. He faced the death penalty if convicted.
The Italian court was planning to move to Turkey this month to question Celenk and other witnesses in connection with an alleged plot to kill the Pope.
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