A jury was picked on Tuesday in the case of Hemant Lakhani, a British businessman arrested in August 2003 in an FBI sting operation for trying to sell missiles to militants intent on downing airliners.
| "Guilty! Bailiff, shoot him! Next case!" |
| "Hey is that a new judge? And why's he wearing a kangaroo costume?" |
The arrest of the 69-year-old Briton born in India is expected to be trumpeted by US officials in opening arguments as a victory in the war against terrorism with defence lawyers deriding the case as entrapment. Lakhani was arrested after a two-year international sting operation and faces charges including attempting to provide material support to terrorists, unlawful arms sales and money laundering. Lakhani, who has pleaded not guilty and has been held in jail since his arrest, faces 25 years if convicted in the federal trial before US District Judge Katharine Hayden, officials said. |