The trial of black militant Angela Davis on charges murder, kidnapping, and conspiracy began on Monday (27 March) in San Jose in the state or California.

Miss Davis is accused of planning an armed assault on a courtroom in San Rafael, California, on the 7 August 1970, in an attempt to obtain hostages for the release of the so-called 'Solodad brothers'--three unrelated black prisoners accused of murdering a white guard at Solodad prison, California, in January 1970. During the proceedings on Monday, two of the "brothers" were acquitted of the charge in another courthouse in San Francisco. The third "brother"--George Jackson--was killed last year in an attempted break out from San Quentin Prison.

During the kidnapping attempt in San Rafael, four guns were smuggled into the courtroom by Jonathan Jackson--younger brother of George Jackson--and he, together with Judge Harold Haley and two others, were killed.

Miss Davis was not present during the incident, but under California law one who plans or instigates a crime is treated as being guilty of the crime.

SYNOPSIS: The strictest security in California's legal history surrounded the San Jose courthouse in the southern United States when the trial of black militant Angela Davis opened on Monday. She is accused of planning the attempt to kidnap a judge and other hostages in another California court nineteen months ago.

Under California law, one who plans the crime is treated as guilty of the crime itself. During the kidnap incident, the judge and three others were killed in a gun battle with the police outside the courthouse. Angela Davis is thus also charged with murder. The hostages were to be exchanged for the imprisoned 'Soledad Brothers', three unrelated black communist militants. Miss Davis, an avowed communist, maintains that her trial is purely; a political one. The prosecution claims that she was motivated by personal relations with George Jackson.