Rajneeshee Defense: Less Is More

The defense abruptly rested its case Thursday after calling just one witness in the trial of two former Rajneeshee leaders accused of conspiring 10 years ago to kill the U.S. attorney for Oregon.

Attorneys for Sally-Anne Croft and Susan Hagan would not comment on why no more witnesses were called.

“Come listen to closing arguments,” Croft’s attorney Leslie Weatherhead said. Closing arguments are scheduled Monday.

Croft and Hagan were known as Ma Prem Savita and Ma Anand Su at the Rajneeshpuram commune, where guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh lived with a fleet of Rolls Royces and thousands of red-garbed followers from 1981 to 1985.

Croft and Hagan fought extradition from Britain for several years before they finally were ordered returned to the United States. They face a maximum penalty of life in prison if convicted.