The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: Hazcat on April 21, 2009, 10:29:47 PM
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Somali pirate's smile turns to tears; charged with crimes that could send him to jail for life
BY Thomas Zambito, Christina Boyle and Tracy Connor
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS
Updated Tuesday, April 21st 2009, 4:41 PM
Williams/AP
Lanzano/AP
Police and FBI agents escort the Somali pirate suspect U.S. officials identified as Abdiwali Abdiqadir Muse into FBI headquarters in New York on Monday.
A Somali sea bandit wept as he was hit with piracy charges Tuesday that could put him in the brig forever.
Lawyers for Abduwali Abdukhadir Muse portrayed him as a wide-eyed victim of the crew that hijacked the Maersk Alabama, but the feds described him as a swaggering buccaneer.
He was among the first to storm the U.S. ship on April 8, fired at Capt. Richard Phillips and stole $30,000 from a safe, according to a criminal complaint filed in Manhattan.
He allegedly forced Maersk sailors to lower a ladder so more pirates could board - but then was tricked into putting down his weapon, tackled and tied up.
The rest of the pirates agreed to leave the Maersk only if the crew freed Muse and gave them a lifeboat - where they held Phillips hostage for four days.
"Muse told the captain that he had hijacked other ships before," the complaint charged, adding that he distributed the $30,000 in plunder on the lifeboat.
Muse was on a Navy ship, trying to broker a deal to end the standoff, when SEALs killed the other pirates and rescued Phillips on April 12.
He was flown to New York because the Manhattan FBI office prosecutes crimes in Africa. It was unclear why Muse's name in the formal federal account differed from that previously reported.
Wearing a prison jumpsuit and a bulky bandage on his wounded left hand, Muse was seen crying in the courtroom - a day after he smiled for the cameras while being led into 26 Federal Plaza.
He said little during the hearing beyond pleading poverty.
"I don't have any money," he told told Magistrate Judge Andrew Peck during a discussion of whether he could afford a lawyer.
Prosecutors presented a charge of piracy, which carries a life sentence, and four related counts.
The courtroom was briefly closed for a hearing on his age after the defense disputed claims he was at least 18.
The judge called Muse's father, who said the suspect was his eldest son, born in November 1993, making him just 15.
Pressed further, the father said his fourth-born son was born in 1990 - and the judge ruled his testimony was not credible.
Muse's court-appointed lawyers said they will appeal the age ruling and also want to see if he's subject to Geneva Convention rules on international prisoners.
They said he was shackled and blindfolded for eight days and had not been given pain medication for his hand in 24 hours.
"He is extremely young, injured and terrified," said lawyer Deirdre von Dornum.
She said it was possible the fisherman was kidnapped by the pirates during Somalia's civil war and forced to participate in the siege of the Maersk.
Asked about her client's seemingly cheerful demeanor before the media on Monday, von Dornum said, "He's never seen a camera before."
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2009/04/21/2009-04-21_is_somali_pirate_that_helped_hijack_maersk_alabama_an_adult_or_just_a_kid_hearin.html
His lawyer, Deirdre von Dornum was a clerk for Ruth Buzzy Ginsberg 1999 - 2000
Poll at link
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Well Muse, I feel your Pain. ;D
From bottom of post:
"His lawyer, Deirdre von Dornum was a clerk for Ruth Buzzy Ginsberg 1999 - 2000"
I hate lie-yers.
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Wait till his buddies come to take him back.
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Lets not blame the defense lawyers here. They're public servants just like the prosecutors and oath bound to defend their clients to the best of their abiity. This is a good thing as they will be the first person any of us call if we ever have to use our gun. As far as the Pirate, how the hell did his dad get to New York? Where did they even find the guy?
FQ13
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Lets not blame the defense lawyers here. They're public servants just like the prosecutors and oath bound to defend their clients to the best of their abiity. This is a good thing as they will be the first person any of us call if we ever have to use our gun. As far as the Pirate, how the hell did his dad get to New York? Where did they even find the guy?
FQ13
Let's not blame the hit men, they are only doing their job.
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Let's not blame the hit men, they are only doing their job.
So, if you get accused of a crime you'll be defending yourself then, as you don't want to associate with defense lawyers? Me thinks not.
FQ13
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He was really looking smug for a while there
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The British troops involved in the "Boston Massacre" were defended by Sam Adams on the theory that EVERYONE deserves a fair defense.
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The British troops involved in the "Boston Massacre" were defended by Sam Adams on the theory that EVERYONE deserves a fair defense.
Brewer and patriot. ;D No BS its easy to stand for some principle when you smypathize with the person you're helping. The true test of character is whether you're willing to defend those you despise because its the right thing to do, and you've taken an oath.
FQ13
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I say he needs to be "Big Bubba's
wife, er, uh, friend in prison"...... ;)
Wipe that damn smirk right off his face...
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Wah, wah, he's just a poor boy with no money. ::)
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So, if you get accused of a crime you'll be defending yourself then, as you don't want to associate with defense lawyers? Me thinks not.
FQ13
That's right, I don't associate with crap eaters, but I guess you do.
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That's right, I don't associate with crap eaters, but I guess you do.
You know runstowin, there's a word for people who use the rhythm method of birth control. That word is parents. Likewise, there is a word for folks who defend themselves pro se in criminal matters. That word is convict. I don't know why someone like you, who has a healthy distrust of the state on the one hand, would think that everyone accused of a crime must be guilty.You obviously do, or you wouldn't be sliming the defense bar as "crap eaters". I'm not saying that the pirate isn't guilty as hell, because he is, but that doesn't mean he's not entitled to a good and vigorous defense. This is for the very simple reason that what takes place in the courthouse isn't about what kind person the accused is, it's about what kind of people WE are. Its a whacky new concept called honor. Check it out sometime.
FQ13 ::)
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You know runstowin, there's a word for people who use the rhythm method of birth control. That word is parents. Likewise, there is a word for folks who defend themselves pro se in criminal matters. That word is convict. I don't know why someone like you, who has a healthy distrust of the state on the one hand, would think that everyone accused of a crime must be guilty.You obviously do, or you wouldn't be sliming the defense bar as "crap eaters". I'm not saying that the pirate isn't guilty as hell, because he is, but that doesn't mean he's not entitled to a good and vigorous defense. This is for the very simple reason that what takes place in the courthouse isn't about what kind person the accused is, it's about what kind of people WE are. Its a whacky new concept called honor. Check it out sometime.
FQ13 ::)
You need to have a point.
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Man, two pages and the long knives are out already. I was just going to point out that is better to shed tears than blood and grey matter and even life in prison here (despite what the leftist would have you believe) is better than a Somali pirate's life save for the plundered loot.
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Man, two pages and the long knives are out already. I was just going to point out that is better to shed tears than blood and grey matter and even life in prison here (despite what the leftist would have you believe) is better than a Somali pirate's life save for the plundered loot.
You're forgetting the wenches, drinking and guns and the whole aaargh factor ;D Add to that other countries sem to be just letting them go when they do get caught and no one on the ships is shooting them. Not a bad line of work. :P
FQ13
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I might give it a try if escapes weren't so difficult on the lake ;D