Bin Laden looms over Padilla terrorism trial

[MrBadExample]

Source: Reuters

MIAMI (Reuters) - Osama bin Laden's face and words loomed over the U.S. terrorism trial of former "dirty bomber" suspect Jose Padilla on Tuesday as jurors were shown a 10-year-old videotaped interview of the al Qaeda leader.

Jurors were attentive but poker-faced as they watched the CNN interview on a giant screen in a Miami courtroom. Padilla and two co-defendants are on trial on charges of conspiring to murder, kidnap and maim people overseas and of providing material support for terrorism.

The three defendants are not accused of having any direct connection to bin Laden, and defense lawyers objected vigorously and called the tape inflammatory and irrelevant.

U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke told jurors to ignore it when deciding Padilla's fate since there was no evidence he saw or discussed the interview. She said jurors could consider it as proof of the other defendants' state of mind but reminded them that the charges had nothing to do with September 11.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN2637004920070626?sp=true

[Drum]

1. It's shameful that the WH has fixated on Padilla et al instead of

the real perpetrators, etc. I sure wish the press would shout about it more...sigh.

Nevertheless, recommended.