Prosecutors ask for anonymous jury in Fort Dix 6 case July 11, 2007
Posted by Scarecrow in 07/09/07 Newsday.trackback
Prosecutors ask for anonymous jury in Fort Dix 6 case
July 9, 2007, 9:58 PM EDT
CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) _ Federal prosecutors have asked that an anonymous jury be impaneled for the trial of six men charged with plotting to attack soldiers on Fort Dix.
In a motion filed Monday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said potential jurors might be concerned about their safety because of the nature of the charges and the international publicity the case has generated.
The request could be discussed at a status conference scheduled for Friday before U.S. District Judge Robert Kugler. Kugler has said previously that the jury pool could include as many as 2,000 people drawn from throughout southern New Jersey.
In a separate motion Monday prosecutors asked the judge to designate the prosecution a “complex case” and waive the rule that the trial begin within 70 days of the men’s June 5 indictment.
Kugler has said previously that it was unlikely the trial could start within the 70-day time frame, but asked attorneys in the case to be ready by October.
Attorney Rocco Cipparone, who represents defendant Mohamad Shnewer, told the Courier-Post of Cherry Hill for Tuesday’s newspapers that he is opposed to the use of an anonymous jury, saying he fears it would only fuel the perception that the defendants are dangerous. All have pleaded not guilty.
In addition to Shnewer, of Cherry Hill, the defendants are brothers Dritan, Eljvir and Shain Duka, all of Cherry Hill; Serdar Tatar of Philadelphia, and Agron Abdullahu of Buena Vista.
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 at the Federal Detention Center in Philadelphia since their arrest in May.
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newjersey/ny-bc-nj–fortdixplot0709jul09,0,2398616.story?coll=ny-region-apnewjersey
