A judge in Virginia says the government can try five Somali men on piracy charges related to an alleged assault on a U.S. Navy ship off the coast of Africa.
U.S. District Judge Mark S. Davis on Friday rejected a defense motion to dismiss the piracy count. The ruling clears the way for trial Nov. 9 in Norfolk.
The ruling is in contrast to the Aug. 17 dismissal of piracy counts against five other Somalis accused in a separate attack on a Navy ship. That trial has been delayed while the government appeals.
The 10 Norfolk defendants are accused of attacking the USS Ashland and the USS Nicholas in March and April. The Virginia-based ships were part of an international flotilla protecting shipping in the pirate-infested waters off Africa.
Source: AP
Piracy: Judge upholds case of 5 Somali piracy suspects
Published: October 30, 2010
