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| US pizza-bomb man 'in on robbery' | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A pizza delivery man killed by a bomb around his neck after apparently being forced to rob a bank was a conspirator, not a hostage, US authorities say. | A pizza delivery man killed by a bomb around his neck after apparently being forced to rob a bank was a conspirator, not a hostage, US authorities say. |
| Brian Wells, 46, died when the device exploded after police surrounded him after he left the bank in Summit Township, Pennsylvania, in 2003. | Brian Wells, 46, died when the device exploded after police surrounded him after he left the bank in Summit Township, Pennsylvania, in 2003. |
| A US grand jury has indicted two people in connection with the plot, both of whom are in jail for unrelated crimes. | A US grand jury has indicted two people in connection with the plot, both of whom are in jail for unrelated crimes. |
| The dead man's brother has rejected claims that Wells was part of the plot. | The dead man's brother has rejected claims that Wells was part of the plot. |
| John Wells said he could not believe the police expected the public to believe that his brother would willingly have put on the timer-controlled bomb. | John Wells said he could not believe the police expected the public to believe that his brother would willingly have put on the timer-controlled bomb. |
| Just before he died, Wells told police he had been forced into the robbery by gunmen. | Just before he died, Wells told police he had been forced into the robbery by gunmen. |
| 'Limited role' | 'Limited role' |
| Speaking at a news conference, US Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan said it had taken the authorities almost four years to complete an "extremely challenging and complex investigation". | Speaking at a news conference, US Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan said it had taken the authorities almost four years to complete an "extremely challenging and complex investigation". |
| According to the indictment, Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, 58, and Kenneth E Barnes, 53, are charged with bank robbery and conspiracy. They are due in court later this week. | According to the indictment, Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, 58, and Kenneth E Barnes, 53, are charged with bank robbery and conspiracy. They are due in court later this week. |
| Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong is in prison for killing her boyfriendDiehl-Armstrong is already serving a sentence for killing her boyfriend, while Barnes is in jail on drug charges. | Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong is in prison for killing her boyfriendDiehl-Armstrong is already serving a sentence for killing her boyfriend, while Barnes is in jail on drug charges. |
| Ms Buchanan said Wells had had a limited role in the plot but that he had been involved in the planning stages. | Ms Buchanan said Wells had had a limited role in the plot but that he had been involved in the planning stages. |
| She said his motive was unclear and he may not known that the bomb he carried was live. | She said his motive was unclear and he may not known that the bomb he carried was live. |
| "Sadly the plans of these other individuals were much more sinister... and he died as a result," she said. | "Sadly the plans of these other individuals were much more sinister... and he died as a result," she said. |
| "It may be that his role transitioned from that of the planning stages to being an unwilling participant in the scheme." | "It may be that his role transitioned from that of the planning stages to being an unwilling participant in the scheme." |
| Investigators believe the reason for the live bomb was to ensure that Wells handed over the money after carrying out the robbery - and so that if he was caught, he could claim to have been forced into it. | Investigators believe the reason for the live bomb was to ensure that Wells handed over the money after carrying out the robbery - and so that if he was caught, he could claim to have been forced into it. |
| Hitman claim | Hitman claim |
| The bizarre case unfolded in August 2003, when Wells, a pizza delivery man, was called to deliver two pizzas to an address in a remote area of Erie. | |
| The bomb Brian Wells was wearing exploded before it could be defused | |
| An hour later, he walked into the PNC Bank about two miles (3km) away with a note demanding money and saying he had a bomb. | An hour later, he walked into the PNC Bank about two miles (3km) away with a note demanding money and saying he had a bomb. |
| Wells took the money and left the bank, but was soon cornered by police, who discovered he had a bomb round his neck, which was locked in place. | Wells took the money and left the bank, but was soon cornered by police, who discovered he had a bomb round his neck, which was locked in place. |
| Wells said the device was on a timer, telling police: "It's going to go off. I'm not lying." | Wells said the device was on a timer, telling police: "It's going to go off. I'm not lying." |
| The bomb squad was called but the device exploded, killing him. | The bomb squad was called but the device exploded, killing him. |
| Ms Buchanan said investigators believed Diehl-Armstrong had killed her boyfriend to keep him from revealing the plot and that she intended to use the proceeds of the robbery to pay a hitman to kill her father. | Ms Buchanan said investigators believed Diehl-Armstrong had killed her boyfriend to keep him from revealing the plot and that she intended to use the proceeds of the robbery to pay a hitman to kill her father. |
| Family 'angry' | Family 'angry' |
| Responding to Ms Buchanan's address, John Wells said he and his family were very angry at the claim that Brian Wells had been a co-conspirator. | Responding to Ms Buchanan's address, John Wells said he and his family were very angry at the claim that Brian Wells had been a co-conspirator. |
| "I don't want my brother being used," he said, accusing the authorities of failing to investigate the case properly. | "I don't want my brother being used," he said, accusing the authorities of failing to investigate the case properly. |
| "My brother was not involved in the bank robbery. He wasn't involved in the planning of the bank robbery." | "My brother was not involved in the bank robbery. He wasn't involved in the planning of the bank robbery." |
| He also criticised local police for having been too slow to call bomb squad officers to defuse the device. | He also criticised local police for having been too slow to call bomb squad officers to defuse the device. |