The World - News from May 21, 1989

A Spanish court convicted seven people on public health, negligence and fraud charges but acquitted them of manslaughter in the sale of counterfeit cooking oil that caused at least 600 deaths. Hundreds of people affected by the oil shouted “Murderers! We want justice!” as the verdicts were read. Although prosecutors had demanded long prison terms, sentences for the principal defendants ranged from four years to the maximum penalty of 20 years. Thousands of people are still suffering from the oil, which affected their lungs and nervous systems, and the government has paid more than $400 million for their health care. The defendants were accused of conspiring in 1981 to sell as cheap olive oil rapeseed oil that had been adulterated with aniline dye and intended for industrial use only.