Hearst 'kidnapper' goes on trial

Olson was living in Minnesota under an assumed name

The trial has begun of Sara Jane Olson, an alleged member of the radical Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA), the group made notorious in 1974 for the kidnapping of heiress American Patricia Hearst.

Ms Olson, whose original name was Kathleen Soliah, is charged with attempting to murder a number of Los Angeles police officers in 1975 by placing bombs under their police cars.

I'm ready to go forward with this episode of my life. We should go ahead and see what happens

Sara Jane Olson

She was arrested two years ago in Minnesota, after the FBI offered a $20,000 reward and showed her photograph on an episode of "America's Most Wanted". She was living under an assumed name and married, with three children.

On Monday lawyers for Ms Olson made an unsuccessful bid to delay the trial until January, arguing that she cannot get a fair trial in the aftermath of the 11 September attacks.

Prejudicial climate

Her lawyer Shawn Snyder Chapman said she was worried that the case would be damaged by the current climate of fear of terrorism and overweening admiration for the police.

Hearst will testify against Olson

"Some jurors plainly state that they will not judge police officers by the same standards of credibility as ordinary citizens," said J Tony Serra, another of Ms Olson's lawyers.

But Superior Court Judge Larry P Fidler dismissed the objections, saying that he would reassess the situation later if there were any indication of jury bias.

"Certainly one of the issues to be addressed is how the events of 11 September affected jurors. If we see a pattern developing, we will have to rethink whether this case can move forward. Right now I can't see any reason that it can't begin," he said.

Retaliation attacks

Ms Olson, currently free on $1m bail, rejects the charges against her, but said that she too was ready for the trial to begin.

"I'm ready to go forward with this episode of my life. We should go ahead and see what happens. I'm hoping everyone will be honest," she said.

Kathy Soliah speaking in Berkeley in 1974

Ms Olson allegedly carried out the failed car bombings in 1975 as retaliation for the deaths of six SLA members in a police shootout a few months earlier.

A violent, radical movement, the SLA was notorious for its kidnapping of Patricia Hearst, the granddaughter of publishing tycoon William Randolph Hearst.

She was later was jailed for taking part in a bank robbery together with SLA members.

Patricia Hearst is to testify against Ms Olson in the trial.