Somali Pirate Suspect Pleads Not Guilty

Teen Accused Of Leading Attack On American Cargo Ship Enters Plea In NYC

(AP)  A Somali teenager accused of leading a pirate attack on an American cargo ship off the coast of Africa pleaded not guilty Thursday to piracy charges.

A somber-looking Abdiwali Abdiqadir Muse entered the plea in a soft voice with his head down during a brief appearance in U.S. District Court in Manhattan.

Afterward, his lawyers said Muse has been kept in solitary confinement since being captured and brought to the United States last month - a predicament that's left him scared and confused. They continued to deny the U.S. government's claim that their client is 18.

"He's a boy who fishes and now he's ended up in solitary confinement," said one of the lawyers, Deirdre von Dornum. "It's truly terrifying."

Muse's age has been in dispute since his arrest. His family has said he is as young as 15, but a magistrate judge concluded he could be tried as an adult since there was evidence that he is 18.

Authorities say Muse was the only surviving pirate among a group that attacked the U.S.-flagged Maersk Alabama on April 8. He was captured April 12 as U.S. military snipers fired on a group holding the cargo vessel's captain hostage. The captain, Richard Phillips, has since returned to his home in Underhill, Vt., to a hero's welcome.

Muse was indicted earlier this week on 10 counts including piracy under the law of nations, conspiracy, hostage taking, kidnapping and possession of a machine gun while seizing a ship by force. If convicted of the most serious charge, he faces a mandatory life sentence.

When the Maersk Alabama was attacked, it was carrying humanitarian supplies about 280 miles (450 kilometers) off the Somali coast. U.S. authorities say Muse led the attack on the ship, firing his AK-47 assault rifle at Phillips.

Authorities say Phillips, held hostage for several days on a lifeboat, had an AK-47 held near his back when the snipers killed three pirates as the small vessel bobbed in the water near three U.S. warships and beneath a helicopter.

Muse was ordered to return to court on Sept. 17.

[6591Hou]

If Bush & Cheney are not guilty why should he be guilty ?
Posted by babooph
===========================
He physically had a gun in his hands when he was captured maybe?

[dkb218]

Hey sbbm-2009, I have a bridge for sale in Brooklyn - Cheap, real cheap. Seems your "facts" come straight from the front page of the Idiot News Channel I figure you ought to fall for a Bridge for Sale in Brooklyn.

Try and understand there are 2 sides to ever story. I have a tendency to disbelieve just about anything the US governments hands have touched until I here both sides of the argument. You seem to have convicted this kill just on the basis if media statements. That makes you simple in my book but hey, we need simple people too - to buy bridges in Brooklyn!

[babooph]

If Bush & Cheney are not guilty why should he be guilty ?

[debinok1]

"He's a boy who fishes". With an AK47? Who are they trying to kid?

[johninpennsyl]

What moron had the brain storm to bring this character to the U.S?
Everybody with any sense leaves them over in Africa and lets the African courts take care of these clowns.Now he goes from being a pain in the a$$ to somebody who will eventually cost millions of dollars to try and incarcerate.
As if we needed some more criminals.

[Observer1504]

Just like the mess in GITMO ...... this is what we get for taking these animals prisoner .......

[6591Hou]

Speaking to reporters outside the courthouse, Deirdre von Dornum, one of Muse's lawyers, said the legal team was investigating the possibility Muse may have been "kidnapped and taken hostage."

She also said she was looking into whether the Geneva Convention, which governs the treatment of war captives, applies in this case since Somalia is engaged in civil war.
=====================================================
So the Geneva Convention is going to get the captured pirate off the hook?

[6591Hou]

"He's a boy who fishes and now he's ended up in solitary confinement," said one of the lawyers, Deirdre von Dornum. "It's truly terrifying."
===============================
I'm sure the unarmed sailors who were fired upon by this guy and his AK-47 sympathize with how terrifying it must be for him.

[hamiltongrad]

Did we use dispropotionate use of force ?

[leeanna59]

Wait until he finds out that there is one version of law for the wealthy, and another version for everyone else....
Posted by omega39-2009

Well, I'm not wealthy, so I don't have personal experience. However, the system so far is working all right for me, I'm not out breaking the law.

[Hermit1948]

Apply the rules of the East India Trading Company. Hang him AND his lawyer--in public.
Posted by Hermit1948

LOL! Wow, I knew being a public defender was a tireless, thankless job but killing them may be just a tad over the top.
Posted by omega39-2009

C'mon, it's just a LAWYER. Too many ready to replace her.

[kerry4ever]

I think they should have left him in the boat with his dead colleagues and let him fend for himself. Even tow him and the dead bodies near the Somali coast so his pals can find out what happens to pirates. Or get an African country to take him,

The only people who are going to benefit from this are lawyers.

[I_am_me1953]

by omega39-2009 May 21, 2009 11:49 AM PDT
I'm sure he was just fishing. With an AK-47! Doesn't everyone!!! I always let my 15 year old son go fishing with an assault rifle, how else do you fish?!
Posted by rjdeb

I have always heard that dynamite is effective.

________________________________

Yes dynamite and firearms are effective. Electricity via one of those old telephone generators works really well also.

[Oregon_State_OSU]

Look at the picture above of Abdiwali Abdiqadir Muse.

It's

Starvin Marvin.

[omega39-2009]

I'm sure he was just fishing. With an AK-47! Doesn't everyone!!! I always let my 15 year old son go fishing with an assault rifle, how else do you fish?!
Posted by rjdeb

I have always heard that dynamite is effective.

[rjdeb]

I'm sure he was just fishing. With an AK-47! Doesn't everyone!!! I always let my 15 year old son go fishing with an assault rifle, how else do you fish?!

[Oregon_State_OSU]

Look at the picture above of Abdiwali Abdiqadir Muse.

Isn't That.

Starvin Marvin ?

[omega39-2009]

Apply the rules of the East India Trading Company. Hang him AND his lawyer--in public.
Posted by Hermit1948 a

LOL! Wow, I knew being a public defender was a tireless, thankless job but killing them may be just a tad over the top.

[omega39-2009]

I see he thinks he has already learned how to "work" our legal system.Wait until he finds out that there is one version of law for the wealthy, and another version for everyone else....

[seriously121]

Wow Indeptex4. LOL