Coretta Scott King told jurors Tuesday that she wants the truth about her husband's assassination to be known.

				KING ASSASSINATION CONSPIRACY TRIAL
				Background Who killed Martin Luther King, Jr.? Discuss on our message board Coretta Scott King testifies 11/16/99: Special Report on the Case 11/23/99: Judge Joe Brown testifies Nov. 29 Update Nov. 29 Update (Afternoon) Nov. 30 Update (Morning) Nov. 30 Update (Evening) Dec. 1 Update (Morning) Dec. 1 Update (Evening): Dexter King testifies Dec. 2 Update Dec. 8 (The Verdict) Text of the Complaint

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Court TV) — Coretta Scott King, widow of the late Martin Luther King, Jr., testified Tuesday that her wrongful death suit is her family's way of "getting at the truth." The suit has been brought by the King family alleging cafe owner Loyd Jowers was part of a conspiracy to assassinate the civil rights leader.

"I always felt that somehow the truth would be known," Mrs. King testified. Though the King family is seeking compensatory damages from alleged conspirators in Dr. King's death, Coretta Scott King stated on the stand, "It's not about money, we are concerned about the truth."

But, what is this truth Coretta Scott King is seeking? For years, most of the nation believed James Earl Ray, who confessed to the murder in 1969, was her husband's killer. Ray was given a sentence of 99 years in prison — the place he died at age 70.

Though Ray confessed to firing the shot that claimed the life of Dr. King as he stood on the balcony of a Memphis motel room, Ray recanted only days later, claiming his guilty plea had been an attempt to avoid the death penalty. The remaining 29 years of Ray's life were spent seeking a new trial.

Now, one year after Ray's death, King's family and James Earl Ray's former attorney have formed what seems like an unlikely team. Dr. William Pepper is assisting the Kings in seeking punitive and compensatory damages from the man they believe is involved in Dr. King's murder.

In a 1993 televised interview, Jowers supported Ray's claim of innocence. He claimed that in 1968, he was part of a conspiracy that involved framing Ray for King's murder.

The alleged murder plot was carried out when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. visited Memphis in 1968. His widow testified Tuesday that King traveled to the Tennessee city to support sanitation workers on strike. King recalled that her late husband hoped for a non-violent march. "His whole life was dedicated to non-violent struggle," she testified.

James Earl Ray admitted firing the single shot that killed Martin Luther King, Jr. But several days after his guilty plea, Ray recanted his story and claimed his original lawyers coerced his confession. (AP Photo)

According to the network television interview Jowers gave in 1993, the plot to kill King involved Memphis police officers and the late Frank C. Liberto, a Memphis produce company operator.

Jowers, who owned a restaurant on the ground floor of the building where James Earl Ray was staying, claims Ray was not the man who fired the fatal gun-shot. Jowers says a mystery-man was the real assassin. After the shooting, Jowers claims, he took the gun and hid it behind the counter of his restaurant. According to Jowers' story, another conspirator got the gun the next day.

The suit also claims that King's true assasin is "a third party, now deceased." Since 1993, Jowers has refused to discuss his claim, indicating that he was fearful of being indicted, but his attorney said Jowers admits to being involved. The attorney Tuesday told the jury his client agreed with "about 80 percent of what Dr. Pepper has to say." His opening statement promised a conspiracy-laden defense.

"Mr. Jowers was a small cog in a very, very big wheel," attorney Lewis Garrison told the jury.

—Latoya Hunter