West Palm Beach - The head of Philip Morris Cos Inc acknowledged yesterday 100,000 people a year could "possibly" die from cigarette smoking, his lawyer said.
Testifying in a deposition in Florida's suit against the tobacco industry, the Philip Morris chief executive, Mr Geoffrey Bible, also said if it were proved cigarettes cause cancer, he would shut down the company's cigarette production "to get a better hold on things."
Mr Bible acknowledged that cigarettes might cause death under questioning by Mr Ron Motley, a lawyer representing the state of Florida.