Posted on 02/08/2005 6:31:34 PM PST by NormsRevenge
NEW YORK (AP) - A month of deliberations in the trial of a lawyer and two others accused of helping terrorists appears to be taking its toll on jurors, leading two of them to ask to speak with the judge Tuesday.
The text of what was said in the two jurors' separate meetings with U.S. District Judge John Koeltl was sealed. The proceedings were witnessed by a lawyer for the government and a lawyer for the defense teams, and raised the possibility of a mistrial.
After the two jurors met with the judge, the three defendants and their lawyers gathered in a corner of the courtroom for a discussion that brought a smile to each defendant. Prosecutors huddled as well. Both sides refused to comment.
Attorney Lynne Stewart, 65, is charged with conspiring to provide material support to terrorists and defrauding and lying to the government while she represented Sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman, who is serving a life prison sentence. Abdel-Rahman, 67, was convicted in 1995 of conspiring to assassinate Egypt's president and to blow up New York landmarks.
The government says Stewart conspired with Arabic interpreter Mohamed Yousry and postal employee Ahmed Abdel Sattar to spread Abdel-Rahman's deadly messages to followers in other countries despite U.S. government attempts to seal him off.
Jurors, who are anonymous and escorted by U.S. marshals to and from the courthouse each day, have appeared tired and frustrated by deliberations. They have met for only 11 days since deliberations began Jan. 12. They have taken off Fridays, a holiday and various days for personal needs.
Meanwhile, the judge said he told U.S. marshals that fliers posted on the streets around the courthouse by a group opposed to Stewart seemed designed to try to influence jurors.
"My responsibility is to assure it is a fair trial," he said.
Stewart's lawyer Michael Tigar suggested that the judge take further steps to prompt an investigation of the fliers and a telephone message that vowed to drive Stewart out of New York. He called the messages "murderous threats."
Stewart said fliers also were posted on the door of her home.
Here is one for clipping
http://www.discoverthenetwork.org/guides/Open%20Borders%20Lobby.pdf
Code Pink, NLG, Murtha and Stewart on some open border's lobby conference!
Downloading now.
Link at 21 is worth a download and read RE: borders
Thanks for the ping!
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