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Week in review

By Times Staff
Published September 26, 2005

Former University of South Florida professor Sami Al-Arian and three co-defendants are on trial in federal court, accused of using Islamic charities as fronts in a conspiracy to finance terrorist attacks by Palestinian Islamic Jihad. With the trial expected to last six months, the St. Petersburg Times is providing a weekly summary highlighting last week's important developments.

THE LATEST: Last week, attorneys in the trial of Sami Al-Arian argued over the admissibility of Internet evidence on the activities of Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The information was obtained by FBI agents from the computers of co-defendants Ghassan Ballut and Hatem Fariz. Repeatedly, U.S. Judge James S. Moody allowed the evidence to come in, saying it could show defendant's knowledge of terrorist acts, if prosecutors prove they helped fund the PIJ.

WHAT'S NEXT: Today, court is in recess but will resume Tuesday without jurors, when prosecutors and defense attorneys discuss the wording of written jury instructions. The judge has given defense attorneys about 10 days for their forensic computer expert to study the Internet evidence, which was admitted last week. On Oct. 3, court will resume with jurors.

[Last modified September 26, 2005, 04:37:25]