[NYTr] AP on the Holy Land Fdtn Mistrial: "Chaos in the Courtroom"

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

[A very different picture of the jury's verdicts here... apparently
some of the jurors disputed some of the verdicts that were announced!
The AP reports "chaos" in the courtroom.-NY Transfer]


AP via The Guardian - Oct 22, 2007
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-7015455,00.html

Mistrial Declared in Muslim Charity Case

By DAVID KOENIG
Associated Press Writer

DALLAS (AP) - A judge declared a mistrial Monday for most former
leaders of a Muslim charity accused of funding terrorism, after chaos
broke out in the court when three jurors disputed the verdict that had
been announced.

One of the defendants, former Holy Land Foundation for Relief and
Development Chairman Mohammed El-Mezain, was acquitted of most charges.

[THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further
information. AP's earlier story is below.]

DALLAS (AP) - The trial of five former Muslim charity leaders was
thrown into turmoil Monday when jurors acquitted three of them of
funding terrorism - but some members of the panel disputed the verdict
announced against the two others.

U.S. District Judge A. Joe Fish sent the panel back to resolve the
differences, and because of the confusion, did not officially accept
any of the jury's findings.

The verdicts were announced after a two-month trial and 19 days of
deliberation. When they were read in court, three jurors said they were
incorrect.

The jury forewoman said she was surprised by the three jurors' actions.

``When we voted, there was no issue in the vote,'' she said. ``No one
spoke up any different. I really don't understand where it is coming
from.''

The judge had announced that Holy Land Foundation for Relief and
Development fundraiser Mufid Abdulqader was acquitted on all counts,
and two co-defendants - former chairman Mohammed El-Mezain Mohammed
El-Mezain and the group's New Jersey representative, Abdulrahman Odeh -
were acquitted on most counts.

The verdicts questioned by the jurors were on charges against the
foundation, as well as former chief executive Shukri Abu Baker and
former chairman Ghassan Elashi.

In all, five former Holy Land leaders and the group were accused of
providing aid to the Middle Eastern militant group Hamas. The U.S.
government designated Hamas a terrorist group in 1995 and again in
1997, making financial transactions with the group illegal.