Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Aafia Siddiqui Found Guilty of Attempted Murder

Even with all her antics, Aafia Siddiqui was found guilty by a jury after a 3-week trial.
A U.S.-trained Pakistani scientist was convicted Wednesday of charges that she tried to kill Americans while detained in Afghanistan in 2008, shouting with raised arm as jurors left the courtroom: ``This is a verdict coming from Israel, not America.''

A jury deliberated three days in federal court in Manhattan before finding Aafia Siddiqui guilty in the third week of her attempted murder trial, which she often interrupted with rambling courtroom outbursts.

After declaring the verdict came from Israel, she turned toward spectators in the packed courtroom and said: ``Your anger should be directed where it belongs. I can testify to this and I have proof.''

Siddiqui, 37, was convicted of attempted murder, though the crime was not found by the jury to be premeditated. She was also convicted of armed assault, using and carrying a firearm, and assault of U.S. officers and employees.

Before her arrest, U.S. authorities had called Siddiqui an al-Qaida sympathizer. She was never charged with terrorism, but prosecutors called her a grave threat who was carrying bomb-making instructions and a list of New York City landmarks including the Statue of Liberty when she was captured.
It wouldn't be complete, however, without her engaging in yet another outburst claiming that the verdict was phoned in from Israel.

It was likely much easier to prove the attempted murder charge rather than risk outing any national security secrets or classified information related to her involvement with al Qaeda.

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