N.Y. Bombing Trial Defense Protests Forewoman’s Sobs
The jury forewoman in the World Trade Center bombing trial broke down in tears Thursday after viewing for the first time the picture of a pregnant secretary killed in the blast.
Defense lawyers moved for a mistrial, saying her sobs were proof that the pictures are inflaming the jurors and will lead them to reach a verdict based on emotion, not facts. But U.S. District Judge Kevin T. Duffy denied their request, saying, “Nice try.”
As jurors viewed pictures of the victims, the forewoman cried after seeing a photo of Monica Smith, the pregnant secretary who was killed in the blast, with her stomach exposed.
Photos of all of the six victims killed in the Feb. 26 blast were shown to jurors during the day.
No witnesses are expected to testify that they saw any of the four defendants at the trade center on the day of the bombing.
The four accused of planting the bomb are Mohammed A. Salameh, 25; Nidal Ayyad, 25; Mahmud Abouhalima, 33, and Mohammad Ahmad Ajaj, 27. If convicted, they face up to life in prison.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
