AFP: Somali teen pirate to stand trial as adult in USA teenaged pirate captured by US forces in a high-seas drama off Somalia was ordered to stand trial here as an adult on charges that could put him in jail for life.
Abdi Wali Abdi Khadir Muse, wearing a blue T-shirt and with head lowered as he entered the court with an interpreter, faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison if convicted on the most serious charge of piracy, prosecutors said.
Judge Andrew Peck ruled the young Somali would be tried as an adult after rejecting a claim by the defendant's father that Muse was only 15 years old. Prosecutors said he was over 18.
"Mr Muse's father's testimony was not credible," said Peck. "The court ruled that the defendant must be treated as an adult."
The five charges filed against Muse were piracy "under the law of nations," conspiracy to seize a ship by force, conspiracy to take hostages, and discharging and brandishing a firearm in the course of a hostage-taking.
Muse could well spend the rest of his life unless acquitted. The piracy charge alone carries a mandatory life sentence, while three other charges carry maximum sentences of life.
Muse was allegedly one of four Somali pirates who boarded the US container ship Maersk Alabama on April 8, and later fled taking its American captain, Richard Phillips, as a hostage in a small life boat.
Muse, who prosecutors described as the group's leader, was taken into custody April 12 after he boarded the USS Bainbridge to demand safe passage in return for Phillips's release.
AFP: Somali teen pirate to stand trial as adult in US
This should be an interesting trial. I hope it's covered by the media so I can follow it.
This part is interesting:
He boarded one of our ships for negotiation and while he was on board "negotiating" we took the rest of his mates out. :shock: That seems wrong somehow.
He boarded one of our ships for negotiation and while he was on board "negotiating" we took the rest of his mates out. :shock: That seems wrong somehow.
He'll have a better life in prison in the USA then he did in Somalia.
He will likely get a light sentence(age or plea bargain excuse) or be released early... 10 years from now he'll be a blip in the news...20-25 and he won't even be that.
He will then be granted US citizenship(or some form of permanent residency) and reside until his death by natural causes in the US.
Yeah it sucks for him...
For all intents he won the lottery ticket of the "waterborne overseas contingency operation"
Fifteen or eighteen doesn't matter. He's a grown man and can face our legal system like one.
That is just wrong.
US is probably just playing witch hunt with the only one left alive.
Besides, shouldn't a Somali pirate be tried in Africa at least?
That is just wrong.
US is probably just playing witch hunt with the only one left alive.
Besides, shouldn't a Somali pirate be tried in Africa at least?
US Flagged vessel == US Territory == US has the right to give him a fair trial and a first-rate hanging.
That is just wrong.
US is probably just playing witch hunt with the only one left alive.
Besides, shouldn't a Somali pirate be tried in Africa at least?
Even if he boarded that US vessel to negotiate a release of his hostage? I always thought there were some rules about that sort of thing. Guess not.
He'll have a better life in prison in the USA then he did in Somalia.
He will likely get a light sentence(age or plea bargain excuse) or be released early...
He boarded one of our ships for negotiation and while he was on board "negotiating" we took the rest of his mates out. :shock: That seems wrong somehow.
I never understood that line of thinking. Either age matters or it doesn't. Either a 15 year old is a man or he is not. They can't legally be both. If we legally treat minors as children then we shouldn't arbitrarily treat them like men when it suits us IMO.
Even if he boarded that US vessel to negotiate a release of his hostage? I always thought there were some rules about that sort of thing. Guess not.
US law specifies one penalty, and only one penalty, for piracy -- life imprisonment.
US law specifies one penalty, and only one penalty, for piracy -- life imprisonment.
He was captured in international waters. The capturing party has jurisdiction.That is just wrong.
US is probably just playing witch hunt with the only one left alive.
Besides, shouldn't a Somali pirate be tried in Africa at least?
Its pretty clear he knew exactly what he was doing, and all of its implications.Biological measures should be used to give the best approximation of the pirates age, and then he should be tried according to that age.
LOL
Being a Traitor = death. According to US LAW.
I never understood that line of thinking. Either age matters or it doesn't. Either a 15 year old is a man or he is not. They can't legally be both. If we legally treat minors as children then we shouldn't arbitrarily treat them like men when it suits us IMO.
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