GOVERNMENT PAID OFF SHABAZZ INFORMANT

The key prosecutionwitness against Malcolm X's daughter, who is charged with plotting to kill Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, today testified that the government promised him $45,000 to act as an informant in the case. Michael Fitzpatrick's testimony provided fresh ammunition for defense attorney William Kunstler, who contends defendant Qubilah Shabazz was entrapped by the informant. Fitzpatrick, who allegedly was hired by Shabazz to kill Farrakhan, said during a pretrial hearing that he has received $34,000 for secretly recording telephone conversations with Shabazz and expects to get $11,000 more. Shabazz said during the taped conversations that she believed Farrakhan was involved in her father's 1965 assassination and was a threat to her mother. Farrakhan denies that allegation and is siding with Shabazz.