The trial of suspected Unabomber, Theodore Kaczynski, has been halted before it even began.

The BBC's Clive Myrie reports on the suspension of court proceedings (Dur: 42")

The jury had expected to hear opening arguments but Mr Kaczynski said he had urgent matters to discuss with the judge, Garland Burrell Jr.

Judge Burrell immediately adjourned the case. He met Mr Kaczynski and his lawyers for three hours behind closed doors.

Unabomber suspect Theodore Kaczynski

Mr Kaczynski's lawyers face a mountain of damning evidence linking Mr Kaczynski to the 20-year bombing spree. They want Mr Kacynski to plead guilty by reason of insanity to prevent him being given the death penalty.

Both Mr Kaczynski and the prosecution have turned down the offer.

Mr Kaczynski pleaded not guilty to 10 bomb-related charges, including the murders of Sacramento computer shop owner, Hugh Scrutton, in 1985 and timber industry lobbyist, Gilbert Murray, in 1995, the Unabomber's last victim.

Family members of Mr Scrutton and Mr Murray were present in the court and will attend the proceedings when the trial resumes.

America's most wanted

During a bombing spree between 1978 and 1995, authorities say the Unabomber killed three people and injured at least 23 others in 16 bomb blasts.

He was dubbed the Unabomber because his targets were generally universities and airlines.

The Montana cabin where Kaczynski lived for 25 years

During the 20-year manhunt, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation went through hundreds of suspects, thousands of interviews and 20,000 phone calls to its toll-free number without success.

Authorities say Mr Kaczynski was unmasked by his own words. In 1995, following the death of Mr Murray, the Unabomber said he would stop killing if the New York Times and the Washington Post published his 67-page anti-technology 'manifesto'.

When the article appeared, Mr Kaczynski's younger brother, David, thought the writing similar to some of Ted Kaczynski's earlier writings. He reluctantly told authorities of his suspicions.

After surveillance of Mr Kaczynski's cabin outside the small mining town of Lincoln, Montana, he was arrested. A search uncovered a copy of the Unabomber's manifesto and a freshly made bomb.

Wanda Kaczynski: Condemned decision to seek death penalty

Although Theodore Kaczynski refused to allow his defence team to enter a plea of insanity.

His family has condemned the Government for its decision to seek the death penalty. They insist he is disturbed.

His mother, Wanda Kaczynski, said: "There are people in this world who are mentally ill. Are we going to start killing them? What kind of a barbaric society are we heading for?"

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