The Al-Arian Jury is Seated
Charles Johnson
Fri May 20, 2005 at 9:03 am PDT • Views: 170
The jury has been seated in the trial of alleged Islamic Jihad US leader Sami Al-Arian, and we can look forward to a barrage of discrimination and bias claims from the defense.
TAMPA, Fla. - A jury was seated Thursday for the trial of a former college professor accused of supporting Palestinian terrorists. But his lawyers said they will continue to press to have the case moved out of Tampa.
William Moffitt, an attorney for Sami Al-Arian, said the intense media coverage and political rhetoric surrounding the case will prevent a fair trial.
“It is a jury panel I believe has some preconceived notions about my client before the trial starts, and I’ve never felt that way before,” Moffitt said.
U.S. District Judge James S. Moody Jr. has yet to rule on the request. Opening statements are set for June 6.
Al-Arian, a 47-year-old former University of South Florida computer scientist, and his three co-defendants are accused of using an Islamic think tank and a Palestinian as fronts to raise money for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Frank says: