An Indonesian Muslim militant dubbed the laughing bomber arrived in court on Thursday for the verdict in his trial for the Bali blasts, the first judgment to be handed down in connection with the attack.

Indonesian police escort Bali bombing suspect Amrozi into a courthouse in Denpasar, on the resort island of Bali, August 6, 2003. Amrozi appeared in court as a witness in the trial of another suspect and the verdict on his role is due on Thursday, the first in the Bali trials. [Reuters]

Prosecutors have demanded the death penalty for Amrozi on charges he helped to plot, organize and carry out crimes of terror in relation to the October 12 nightclub blasts that killed 202 people, mostly foreign tourists.

The mechanic from Java island arrived at the heavily guarded court in an armored vehicle for the verdict just two days after a suicide bomber drove a van loaded with explosives similar to those used in Bali into a U.S.-run luxury hotel in the capital, Jakarta, killing at least 10 people.

"Allahu akbar (God is Greatest)," an onlooker shouted outside the courtroom as Amrozi entered. Amrozi was wearing a loose white Muslim shirt, a cream and green Muslim cap and dark trousers.

Hundreds of police carrying wooden staves surrounded the court building. Approach roads were barricaded by roadblocks.

Amrozi, 40, has admitted involvement in the attacks during the trial and once famously said "whites" deserved to die.

Those who said they were eager for retribution from the panel of five judges ranged from waiters who survived the bombs that destroyed two popular clubs to Australians maimed in the attacks and local entrepreneurs who have scraped to make a living since the attacks devastated the island's tourism industry.

About half of the dead in Bali were Australians, killed as they enjoyed the island's famous nightlife on October 12 last year. Several dozen Indonesians, including Balinese, also died.

"You must die Amrozi," read a message posted on the green fence in front of a mound of earth that was once the Sari Club.

"Whether he rots away in jail for 60 years or they shoot him dead, as long as gets his (punishment) I don't really mind," said Australian Jake Ryan, 22, who lose half of his left foot in the blast that destroyed the Sari Club. Five of his friends were killed, he said as he arrived at the court to hear the verdict.

HIGH STAKES

Plenty is at stake for the world's most populous Muslim nation in the trials of 38 suspects arrested over Bali, especially in the wake of Tuesday's powerful car bomb attack that killed 10 people and wounded 150 at the JW Marriott Hotel in Jakarta.

Indonesia had been basking in international praise for showing the world it could tackle the Bali bombings, blamed on Southeast Asia's Jemaah Islamiah militant Muslim network.

The Marriott attack suggests it has plenty left to do.

Police have highlighted similarities between the two attacks, especially in the bomb composition. The Bali bombs were made mainly of TNT and potassium chlorate -- a fertilizer compound.

Two of Amrozi's brothers are also on trial for Bali.

But as the first suspect arrested, Amrozi has been a focal point of anger in Bali, a picture-postcard mix of golden beaches, emerald rice fields and gentle people.

Amrozi's giggling delight at the attacks, broadcast in a public police interrogation a month after the Bali blasts, shocked people across this Hindu island and around the world.

He also gained notoriety by laughing at Indonesian witnesses.

Australian Geoff Phillips, father of Brad Phillips who lost seven friends, said he wanted the maximum penalty. His son refused to speak.

"He smiles and makes you very, very annoyed. Just the smile, the smirk, the arrogance. That's when you feel like you could put a gun to his head and blow him away. It just doesn't seem right."

Like other accused Bali bombers, Amrozi came under the sway of the teachings of Abu Bakar Bashir, alleged head of Jemaah Islamiah. Police have linked Bashir to the Bali blasts but not named him as a suspect. The cleric has denied any wrongdoing.

Amrozi's lawyer has said the only thing that could be proved against him was that he had sent chemical substances to Bali.

The defendant has told the court he brought a minivan from his home on Java island so it could be made into a massive car bomb.

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