U.S. updates victim assistance guidelines after criticism in Boeing case - Reuters

WASHINGTON, Oct 24 (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department has issued updated guidelines for unfortunate and witnesser assistance aft the authorities came nether harsh disapproval from the families of those killed successful 2 Boeing (BA.N) 737 MAX crashes.

U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor successful Texas ruled connected Friday that radical killed successful 2 Boeing (BA.N) 737 MAX crashes are legally considered "crime victims." He inactive indispensable determine connected what remedy should beryllium imposed aft making the determination.

The revised guidelines item "when and however section employees enactment with victims and witnesses of transgression to guarantee that their voices are heard and that they are protected during transgression justness proceedings," the Justice Department said.

In December, immoderate victims' relatives argued the section violated their rights erstwhile it struck the January 2021 statement with Boeing implicit the 2 crashes successful a five-month play that killed 346 people.

The families argued the U.S. authorities "lied and violated their rights done a concealed process," and asked a justice to rescind Boeing's immunity from transgression prosecution, which was portion of the $2.5 cardinal agreement, and arraigning Boeing connected the felony charges.

The revised guidelines importantly grow enactment for radical importantly harmed by transgression but whitethorn not conscionable the statutory explanation of "victim." They besides necessitate earlier notification and consultation and accidental "prosecutors should, arsenic appropriate, notify victims of plea agreements, deferred prosecution agreements, and non-prosecution agreements earlier a charging papers is filed."

Attorney General Merrick Garland said "the revised guidelines volition guarantee that we proceed to fulfill our obligations to victims and witnesses."

Garland met virtually successful January with families of immoderate Boeing clang victims but the section stood by the 2021 plea agreement. In February, the section apologized "for not gathering and conferring with these clang victims' beneficiaries earlier entering into" the deferred prosecution agreement.

O'Connor ruled connected Friday that "in sum, but for Boeing's transgression conspiracy to defraud the (Federal Aviation Administration), 346 radical would not person mislaid their lives successful the crashes."

The Justice Department and Boeing declined remark connected the ruling.

Paul Cassell, a lawyer for the families, said the section "clearly violated the Crime Victims' Rights Act by secretly negotiating an statement that granted Boeing immunity from transgression prosecution."

The Justice Department woody capped a 21-month probe into the plan and improvement of the 737 MAX pursuing the 2 crashes, successful Indonesia and Ethiopia successful 2018 and 2019.

Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Marguerita Choy

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