Posted on 12/02/2004 7:16:36 PM PST by Land_of_Lincoln_John
December 2, 2004 (CHICAGO) — There was emotional testimony Thursday from a parent and a friend of an American teenager killed by terrorists in the Middle East.
The parents of David Boim are suing a man from the Chicago area and two Islamic charities for funding the terrorist group responsible for their son's death.
The day began when an odd move by the defense saying there would be no defense.
As the plaintiff's attorneys carried on, jurors heard from someone who was with David Boim the day of the attack and David's father.
David Boim's friend was next to him when he was shot and killed. Yechiel Gellman came from Israel to testify.
"I've seen the family in the last eight years suffer day after day, before the holidays, and whenever we get together," said Yechiel Gellman, David Boim's Friend
David Boim was a 17 year old high school student in Jerusalem in 1996 when he and his classmates were waiting for a bus. Suddenly they were shot at by Hamas gunman.
"Terrorists stopped their car and opened fire. This took like one, two, three seconds. They shot like 30 bullets," Gellman said.
Boim's parents wept in court as their son's friend testified. Stanley Boim also took the stand. He described hearing about the terrorist attack on the radio as he drove to the hospital. When asked about his son's death, Stanley Boim said: "He was cut down by a bullet financed by the organizations against whom we brought suit."
The Boim's are suing two American organizations and Mohammed Salah of Bridgeview.
Last month, a federal judge ruled that those named were liable for David's death because money was knowingly going toward terrorist activity.
This jury trial will decide if a third organization called the Quranic Literacy Institute is also liable and how much money the Boims receive for David's death.
In an unusual move the defendants have refused to participate in their defense.
In court a member of Quranic literacy institute confirmed they will not put up a defense saying they have not had enough time to prepare and ultimately would not receive a fair trail.
"This is the American justice system on trial. Can Muslims in America get a fair trial is the issue, and the answer is a resounding no," said Amer Haleem of the Quranic Literacy Institute.
The attorney for the Boim's disputes that claim saying the defendants have had ample to prepare.
"We think that their decision not to stand and defend themselves is a calculated decision that has a political overtone and is not based on their inability to be prepared," said Stephen Landes, the Boim's Attorney.
The jurors also heard the deposition of Mohammed Salah read into evidence. In it, Salah was asked about a series of checks made out to him for thousands of dollars and his connection to Quranic Literacy as well as Hamas. Salah did not answer any of those questions and invoked his Fifth Amendment rights.
The trial resumes on Monday.
"Islam is a Religion of Peace" ping.
hit islimeists where it hurts. there wallet.
their
While I am in no way defending terrorism, or wishing to denegrate the family of the victim, I'd see this as lawsuit abuse. Are the "free republicans" supporting a "right" to sue for something that happened outside the United States that only tangentially involves funds possibly from an organization in the U.S.
Given the logic of this case, Venezualans in the United States who lost a relative during the electoral violence in that country could sue the Republican Party since it helped fund the opposition.
Salah, a U.S. citizen, was arrested in Jerusalem in 1993 and convicted in 1995 for allegedly helping to channel $650,000 to the terrorist group Hamas. He returned to the United States after a five-year prison sentence.
This would be like suing people who donate to the Catholic church, because their son was molested by a priest; or like suing the investors of H&K, because their son was shot with an MP5.
bttt
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.