Celebrity witnesses testify for convicted killer facing death penalty

<br>MIAMI (AP) _ A parade of character witnesses testified on behalf of a British millionaire facing the death penalty for a 1986 double murder at a hearing to determine if his life should be spared. <br><br>British

Tuesday, March 26th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

MIAMI (AP) _ A parade of character witnesses testified on behalf of a British millionaire facing the death penalty for a 1986 double murder at a hearing to determine if his life should be spared.

British defense witnesses on Monday included a racehorse trainer, a member of Parliament and a retired wrestler, all of whom testified by two-way satellite from Britain about their friendship with defendant Krishna Maharaj.

Witnesses testified that they saw Maharaj as a generous, gregarious importer who owned 24 Rolls-Royces and a string of British racehorses.

Trainer Clive Brittain, a friend of Maharaj for 30 years, said, ``You couldn't help but be friendly with him because he was a friendly guy.''

Maharaj was convicted of killing father-and-son business rivals Derrick and Duane Moo Young at a Miami hotel room in 1986. He claims he was framed and has eight alibi witnesses putting him miles away when the Youngs were killed.

Florida courts have upheld his 1987 murder conviction, but his death sentence was vacated four years ago largely because of irregularities involving his trial judge.

The jury must recommend either the death penalty or 25 years to life in prison at his resentencing hearing this week. Defense attorneys are not allowed to argue about Maharaj's innocence, only that he deserves a sentencing break.

Peter Bottomley, a member of the British House of Commons, met Maharaj in 1997 while he was appealing his death sentence.

``I both like him and respect him,'' Bottomley said. ``I find him the kind of person who I'm pleased to be associated with.''

Retired wrestler Mick McManus described his dealings with Maharaj at charity fund-raisers and called him ``a very genuine, honest, generous man.''

The defense also called former U.S. Rep. Mervyn Dymally of Los Angeles, who met Maharaj through his brother, a former attorney general in Trinidad.

Dymally, who has kept in touch with Maharaj in prison, said, ``I found him still to be very compassionate, very understanding about life.''

The judge planned closing arguments on Tuesday.