The lawyer of Raed Hijazi, a Jordanian American being tried on charges of plotting to carry out terrorist acts in Jordan, insisted his client was not guilty and called for his acquittal. On December 12, the prosecution asked for the death penalty against Hijazi and two other defendants, both fugitives. They are Ahmed Nazal Khalayleh, a Jordanian living in Afghanistan, and Mohammed Haj Saqa, a Syrian living in Germany. Hijazi was sentenced to death in absentia last year along with 21 of the 28 Islamists accused of plotting terrorist attacks on US and Israeli targets during millennium festivities. He was subsequently arrested in Syria and extradited to Jordan, where he is also accused of illegally fabricating and possessing explosives and must be retried on those same charges. Chief Magistrate Colonel Tayel Raqqad said a hearing for the verdict would be set soon. But Hijazi shouted from the dock: "Why not announce the death penalty now?" Hijazi's name is on a US list of alleged terrorists published after the September attacks.
We're hoping this guys takes up cervical bungee jumping soon. |