'Laughing bomber' silent

The man called the "laughing bomber" sat impassively before a panel of Indonesian judges.

He wore a long white shirt, thongs and a wispy goatee.

Amrozi, a 40-year-old mechanic, is the first defendant to stand trial for killing 202 people in the Bali bombings in October last year. He faces the death penalty.

In the Denpasar courtroom yesterday, he sat in a black leather barbershop-style chair, which was bolted to the floor, as charges against him were read.

He then chafed as he was eyed by the panel of five judges while the prosecution explained his motive: revenge on the United States and its allies.

Amrozi's demeanour was very different to a public police interrogation a month after the bombings, when he waved and smiled at the world's press.

Helicopters hovered over the court yesterday and hundreds of police surrounded the building.

In a compound nearby about 100 Balinese watching the trial on television were heard jeering loudly when the defence said the indictment failed to show that their client took part in the planning of the bombings.

Inside the hearing, Australian blast survivor Peter Hughes told reporters: "To be honest with you, this is the best thing that could have happened. When Amrozi walked in I felt something lifted off me."

But soon after it began Amrozi's case was adjourned by legal argument.

It will resume next week.


Herald Feature: Bali bomb blast