Appeals court denies government bid on videos
Lawyer Blogs
Federal prosecutors won't be able to use violent videos found on the home computer of an Egyptian college student as evidence in his trial on explosives charges in Florida, an appeals court ruled Wednesday.
The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a Tampa district judge's ruling in the case of Youssef Samir Megahed, a former University of South Florida student charged with possession of a destructive device.
Megahed, 22, and a companion were arrested in South Carolina in August 2007 after deputies said they found explosives in the trunk of their car during a traffic stop. Defense attorneys have characterized the items as homemade fireworks.
Prosecutors had appealed the judge's decision to throw out the videos found on a computer at Megahed's home, saying they were essential to the case. They showed Qassam rockets, the type of rockets used by Hamas militants against Israel, and the use of improvised explosive devices and attacks against military forces in the Middle East.
"We're obviously pleased with the 11th Circuit ruling, and we hope to get this thing to trial finally," said Megahed's attorney, Adam Allen.
U.S. Attorney's Office spokesman Steve Cole declined to comment.
Megahed's companion, Ahmed Mohamed, 27, pleaded guilty last year to aiding terrorists by making a YouTube video demonstrating how to make a remote detonator for a bomb. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
The video was found on his laptop computer that was in the car when the men were stopped for speeding near Charleston, S.C.
Megahed is not charged in connection with that video.
Related listings
-
Court sides with police officers in search case
Lawyer Blogs 01/21/2009The Supreme Court says police officers who searched a suspect's home without a warrant cannot be sued for violating his constitutional rights.In ruling unanimously Wednesday for five officers attached to the Central Utah Narcotics Task Force, the cou...
-
Confessions, some chaos as Gitmo war court resumes
Lawyer Blogs 01/20/2009Two of the five men accused of orchestrating the Sept. 11 attacks offered unapologetic admissions of guilt Monday in a sometimes chaotic — and possibly final — session of the Guantanamo war crimes court. The hearings, scheduled over several days, cou...
-
World Court says US defied order in death row case
Lawyer Blogs 01/20/2009The International Court of Justice ruled Monday that the United States defied its order last year when authorities in Texas executed a Mexican convicted of rape and murder.The U.N.'s highest court said the U.S. remains obliged to review the cases of ...
New Rochelle, New York Personal Injury Lawyers
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, contact Kommer, Bave & Ollman, LLP, in New Rochelle, New York, immediately. We can answer all your questions and work with you to determine if you have the grounds for a personal injury lawsuit. The attorneys at our firm are determined to resolve even the most difficult of cases. We will work closely with you to determine the best course of action to get your claim or case resolved in the most efficient way possible. We will fight for your right to compensation! No one should have to suffer a financial burden from the result of another person’s carelessness. The attorneys at Kommer, Bave & Ollman, LLP will aggressively fight to ensure that justice is served on your behalf.