New trials for Yemeni, deputy
A federal appeals court overturned the convictions of a Yemeni cleric and his deputy, finding they had been prejudiced by inflammatory testimony about unrelated terrorism links in a case the United States once touted as a victory in its war on terrorism.
The U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals said Sheik Mohammed Ali Moayad and Mohammed Mohsen Zayed, convicted in Brooklyn in 2005 of supporting terrorists, can have new trials.
The three-judge panel took the unusual step of ordering the transfer of the case to a new judge.
The men were convicted of conspiring to support Hamas and Al Qaeda.
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.
