Charges Dismissed Against 6 Somalis

[alp227]

Source: Associated Press

Filed at 4:54 p.m. ET

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- A judge on Tuesday dismissed piracy charges against six Somali men accused of attacking a Navy ship off the coast of Africa, concluding the U.S. government failed to make the case their alleged actions amounted to piracy.

The dismissal of the piracy count by U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson tosses the most serious charge against the men, but leaves intact seven other charges related to the alleged April 10 attack on the USS Ashland in the Gulf of Aden. A piracy conviction carries a mandatory life term.

Defense attorneys argued last month that the Ashland defendants did not meet the U.S. legal definition of piracy because they did not take command of and rob the amphibious dock landing ship.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/08/17/us/AP-US-Prosecuting-Pirates.html

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Jackson is a Clinton appointee and African-American. <sarcasm>Oh no! Black Liberal Democrat judge freeing black terrorists!</sarcasm>

But really, the Justice Dept will review Jackson's ruling, and another judge will review the case next month.

[timo]

1. they still

face a whole bunch of other charges

[louis-t]

2. The headline is misleading.

NYT wants to sell papers.

[Lightning Count]

3. Arghh! nt