How Hasenfus Case Unfolded: From His Capture to Pardon

Here are highlights of the case of Eugene Hasenfus, the American mercenary who was pardoned Wednesday by Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and flown out of the country.

Oct. 5--A C-123 cargo plane carrying weapons and other supplies to U.S.-backed rebels is shot down over southern Nicaragua by Sandinista troops. Hasenfus parachutes to safety; three other crew members, including two Americans, die in the crash.

Oct. 6--Hasenfus is caught by Sandinista troops, becoming the first American captured in the Nicaraguan conflict.

Oct. 7--Hasenfus makes his first public appearance in Managua before reporters, where he says only: “My name is Gene Hasenfus. I come from Marinette, Wis. I was captured yesterday in southern Nicaragua. Thank you.”

Sandinista officials say Hasenfus carried identification associating him with a U.S. military advisory group in El Salvador. U.S. officials in Washington deny any connection between Hasenfus and the U.S. government. A rebel official says the contras had nothing to do with the plane or the crew.

Oct. 9--In a news conference, Hasenfus says he worked with people he believed were CIA employees and took part in 10 flights from El Salvador and Honduras. He says the airplane shot down was carrying weapons to the contras.

Coffins with the bodies of the two Americans killed in the crash, William J. Cooper and Wallace Blaine Sawyer Jr., are left outside the closed gates of the U.S. Embassy and eventually taken inside.

Oct. 16--The Sandinista government announces Hasenfus will be tried before the People’s Tribunal. In the United States, it is announced that Griffin Bell, a former U.S. attorney general, has volunteered to represent Hasenfus.

Oct. 20--Hasenfus is formally charged before the tribunal with terrorism, violating public order and criminal association.

Oct. 23--Enrique Sotelo Borgen, the American’s Nicaraguan lawyer, declares before the tribunal that Hasenfus is innocent and argues that the court lacks the authority to hear the case since it was set up in 1983 to try Nicaraguans.

Oct. 25--Bell complains that Sandinistas will not allow him to talk to Hasenfus.

Oct. 27--Bell presents a list of 19 Nicaraguans held in U.S. prisons and says he would be willing to initiate an exchange for Hasenfus. Nothing comes of the offer.

Oct. 29--Sandinista prosecutors open their case with documents taken from the plane wreckage.

Oct. 31--Hasenfus appears before the tribunal, but refuses to make a statement after his lawyer objects to him testifying at that time.

Nov. 2--Hasenfus testifies he had no direct knowledge of CIA links to an air cargo operation dropping weapons and supplies to the contras.

Nov. 4--Hasenfus tells the tribunal he would ask the Sandinista government to show compassion if found guilty. He also says the purpose of the flight was to resupply the contras and that he took the job because he was out of work.

Nov. 9--The trial moves to the southern Nicaraguan jungles where the plane crashed, with tribunal president Reynaldo Monterrey, Hasenfus and government witnesses flown there by helicopter.

Nov. 10--Prosecution and defense lawyers rest their cases.

Nov. 11--Tribunal begins deliberations.

Nov. 15--The tribunal rules Hasenfus was guilty of terrorism, violating the maintenance of public order and security, and criminal association, and orders a 30-year sentence.

Nov. 20--Nicaraguan Vice President Sergio Ramirez says a pardon for Hasenfus is “an open possibility.”

Nov. 21--Ortega in his first public comments since Hasenfus was sentenced says a decision on the American’s fate may be made in the near future.

Nov. 23--Roman Catholic Cardinal Bernard Law of Boston meets briefly with Hasenfus at his prison. No details of the conversation are released.

Dec. 4--Hasenfus’ wife, Sally, returns to Managua, amid speculation she was working to gain her husband’s release.

Dec. 10--Wisconsin Gov. Anthony Earl says he was told by Nicaraguan vice president that any word on a pardon for Hasenfus would not come until January.

Dec. 11--An appeals court upholds the tribunal’s 30-year sentence for Hasenfus following an automatic review.

Dec. 16--Sen. Christopher J. Dodd (D-Conn.) visits Hasenfus in prison and says later no decision had been made on Hasenfus’ release.

Dec. 17--Ortega asks the National Assembly to pardon Hasenfus. The assembly quickly approves the measure, and Hasenfus leaves the country with his wife and Dodd on a U.S. Air Force jet.