Estrada 'intervened in murder trial'

A senator in the Philippines has accused President Joseph Estrada of intervening in a controversial murder trial to seek the acquittal of the son of a former senator.

The accusations by the senator, Renato Cayetano, came during Mr Estrada's trial on corruption charges.

Mr Cayetano said Mr Estrada had asked him to help win the acquittal of Hubert Webb, the son of a former senator, who was being tried along with five other men for the murder in 1991 of a woman and her two daughters.

Mr Cayetano told the court that the trial judge Amelita Tolencito and chief state prosecutor Jovencito Zuno could support his claims; he said they were both summoned separately by Mr Estrada, who told them of Mr Webb's innocence. Hubert Webb was later found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment by the judge. Mr Cayetano said his refusal to help Mr Estrada had led the president to orchestrate a smear campaign against him.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service