Fort Dix Prosecutors Seek Anonymous Jury July 11, 2007
Posted by Scarecrow in 07/10/07 Philly.com.trackback
Posted on Tue, Jul. 10, 2007
Fort Dix Prosecutors Seek Anonymous Jury
The Associated Press
CAMDEN, N.J. – Federal prosecutors have asked that an anonymous jury be impaneled for the trial of six men accused of plotting to attack soldiers on Fort Dix.
In a motion filed Monday, the U.S. attorney’s office said potential jurors might fear for their safety because of the nature of the charges and the international publicity around the case.
The request could be discussed at a meeting Friday before U.S. District Judge Robert Kugler.
Attorney Rocco Cipparone, who represents Mohamad Shnewer, told the Courier-Post of Cherry Hill for Tuesday’s editions that he opposes an anonymous jury, fearing it would only fuel the perception that the defendants are dangerous.
All have pleaded not guilty. The other defendants are brothers Dritan, Eljvir and Shain Duka; Serdar Tatar; and Agron Abdullahu. Shnewer, the Dukas and Tatar are charged with conspiring to kill American military personnel; Abdullahu is charged with providing firearms to illegal immigrants.
All six have been held without bail in a Philadelphia jail since their arrest in May.
Prosecutors also asked Kugler in a separate request to designate the prosecution a “complex case” and waive the rule that the trial begin within 70 days of the June 5 indictments. Kugler has said it was unlikely the trial could start within the 70-day time frame but asked attorneys to be ready by October.
http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/nation/20070710_ap_fortdixprosecutorsseekanonymousjury.html
