Attorneys: Company responsible for slaying of Texas accountants
Posted: Wednesday, December 08, 1999  HOUSTON (AP) - Four Texas
accountants shot to death in Pakistan were tossed into the midst
of seething anti-American sentiment by a negligent oil company,
attorneys told a jury Tuesday.  Tracy Ritchie, 41; Joel Enlow,
40; Larry Jennings, 49; and Ephraim Egbu, 42; were ambushed and
assassinated on a roadway in Karachi, Pakistan, two years ago.
Their families, saying Union Texas Petroleum knowingly sent the
businessmen into a perilous political climate, are suing the
energy company.  The jury, which must decide damages if it finds
Houston-based Union Texas was negligent, heard opening arguments
from both sides Tuesday. The civil trial before State District
Judge Jane Bland is expected to take about two weeks.  Union
Texas ignored U.S. State Department warnings against travel to
the Middle Eastern country, lawyers for the families argued.
Oil company attorneys said the company took some precautions but
couldn