Court Roundup

North Carolina Trial focuses on plot to kill service personnel NEW BERN, N.C. (AP) -- The man described as the ringleader of a homegrown terrorist group will testify at the trial of three men accused of conspiring to kill service members at the U.S. Marine base at Quantico, Va., and other places, a federal prosecutor said in opening statements. The Sun Journal of New Bern reported (http://bit.ly/n5nwTm) that Assistant U.S. Attorney John S. Bowler said the government's evidence will include testimony from Daniel Patrick Boyd, who has pleaded guilty in the case. Bowler said Tuesday in U.S. District Court that the government's evidence will prove that the men were "caring for, working toward, taking concrete measures to support a violent jihad." Attorneys for the men -- Hysen Sherifi, Mohammad Omar Aly Hassan and Ziyad Yaghi -- each made separate opening statements, saying their clients are innocent. They face multiple felony charges related to allegations they conspired to attack the Marine base in Quantico and targets overseas. All face life in prison if found guilty of the most serious charges. "You haven't heard any evidence," said John McAfee, attorney for the 27-year-old Sherifi. "You have heard what the government believes the evidence will show you. Belief is really at the core of the case. What did Sharifi believe?" Hassan's attorney, Dan Boyce of Raleigh, said the charges against his client are based on a misunderstanding of Islam and of motives for Hassan's minimal association with Boyd or others charged. Jim Ayres, attorney for Yaghi, said Boyd preyed on the innocence of young kids. "Boyd was completely self-serving in everything he did," Ayers said. A fourth defendant, Anes Subasic, went on trial Monday in federal court in Greenville. He's being tried separately because he is defending himself. Boyd pleaded guilty in February to charges of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and conspiracy to murder, kidnap, maim and injure persons in a foreign country. Zakariya Boyd later pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists. Last week, Dylan Boyd, 24, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to provide material support to terrorism. Daniel Boyd is the father of Dylan and Zakariya Boyd. An eighth defendant, Jude Kenan Mohammad, is still at large and believed to be living in Pakistan. Virginia Judge in US dismisses families' USS Cole lawsuit NORFOLK, Virginia (AP) -- A federal judge in the state of Virginia has dismissed a lawsuit that sought an additional $282.5 million from Sudan for the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole. Relatives of the 17 sailors killed in the bombing in Yemen filed the lawsuit in April 2010. They claimed Sudan's government provided support for al-Qaida terrorists. U.S. District Judge Robert Doumar in Norfolk ruled Monday that the plaintiffs can't file a new lawsuit based on the same terrorist incident. Fifty-nine of the 61 plaintiffs had obtained a nearly $8 million judgment against Sudan in an earlier lawsuit. The 2010 case was based on 2008 law that allows for retroactive punitive-damage awards against nations that sponsor terrorism. Doumar's ruling says Congress exceeded its authority by letting the families bring new claims. The Virginian-Pilot first reported the ruling. Louisiana Judge asked to delay trial over Katrina shooting NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Defense attorneys are asking a federal judge to postpone the trial of two New Orleans police officers charged with lying under oath about the shooting death of a man outside the city's convention center in Hurricane Katrina's aftermath. Lawyers for officers Ronald Mitchell and Ray Jones said in a court filing Tuesday that they need more time to prepare for the trial, which is scheduled to start Oct. 31. Prosecutors asked U.S. District Judge Sarah Vance to reject that request. Vance didn't immediately rule. Mitchell allegedly shot and killed Danny Brumfield while patrolling an area where thousands of residents sought refuge after the 2005 storm. Prosecutors said Brumfield either jumped on the hood of the officers' car or was struck by the vehicle before he was shot. Published: Thu, Sep 22, 2011