Peru Paroles American Lori Berenson

New Yorker has been jailed 15 years for helping guerrillas
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted May 25, 2010 5:26 PM CDT
Peru Paroles American Lori Berenson
Lori Berenson, left, is escorted by police officers as she arrives for an audience at a courthouse in Lima, Tuesday.   (AP Photo/Karel Navarro)

Peru has granted parole to Lori Berenson, an American who has spent the last 15 years in prison on charges that she helped leftist guerrillas, reports Reuters. An appeal is expected, but Berenson is expected to be released tomorrow. The former New Yorker, now 40, was jailed after moving to Peru as a civil rights activist and accused of joining the revolutionary group MRTA.

She originally got a life sentence, but it was shortened to 20 years under US pressure. Berenson has a year-old son who has been living with her in prison. Her husband, a former-rebel-turned-attorney, represented her at the parole hearing. The court's action comes days ahead of a visit to the White House by Peru President Alan Garcia, notes Reuters.
(More Lori Berenson stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X