Posted on 02/01/2013 11:14:09 AM PST by jazusamo
Silence fell across a Portland courtroom Thursday as U.S. District Judge Garr M. King read the verdict in the terrorism case of Mohamed Osman Mohamud, whose attempt to bomb the city's town square two years ago stunned the nation.
Jurors found the 21-year-old Somali American guilty of trying to detonate a weapon of mass destruction in Pioneer Courthouse Square -- a four-block walk from where they sat in the downtown courthouse.
Mohamud, whose lawyers argued that the FBI entrapped their client in a sophisticated sting that went too far, showed no reaction.
Wearing a sweater and slacks, he rose from his seat, looked back at his lawyers and waved as deputy U.S. marshals ushered him out of the courtroom. The proceeding took seven minutes.
"It's good to have closure on the case," Ethan D. Knight, the government's chief prosecutor, told a crush of reporters atop the steps of the Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Courthouse.
"But an instance such as this is also sad in the sense that this defendant's conduct impacted a number of people, including his family," Knight said. "We believe that the evidence showed in court makes clear that this investigation and this prosecution rightfully addressed a significant threat and dangerous situation."
Mohamud's legal team said it will appeal the decision, returned after less than seven hours of deliberation. Chief defense lawyer Stephen R. Sady said the team will work until Mohamud's May 14 sentencing to show reasons he should receive a much-reduced punishment from the potential life prison term he faces.
"We're disappointed with the verdict," said Sady, who spoke briefly with his client after court. "We obviously thought he was entrapped."
(Excerpt) Read more at oregonlive.com ...
The attorneys should share a cell with the would be murderer.
I doubt if even the 9th Circus will overturn this verdict but as liberal as they are it's possible.
“. . . Mohamed Osman Mohamud, whose attempt to bomb the city’s town square two years ago stunned the nation.”
?
I, for one, was not stunned. Nor, I imagine, were a lot of people. Business as usual for the ROP.
When the next terrorist attack occurs, how many people outside of the State Department will be “stunned” at the fact?
And will anyone be even mildly surprised if the perpetrator has a name like Mohamed Osman Mohamud?
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