Jurors in Miami are expected to begin their fourth day of deliberations in the trial of six men accused of plotting to blow up the Sears Tower.
The jury appeared to hit a roadblock yesterday, when it sent a written question to the judge. They asked whether swearing an oath to al-Qaeda is a crime. Defense attorneys argued the answer should be no. Prosecutors said yes, referring to a piece of videotaped evidence from the FBI showing the defendants pledging allegiance to al-Qaeda.The judge responded with a reference to her original instructions, particularly those referring to the crime of providing support to a foreign terrorist organization. The group orginally known as the “Liberty City Seven” now is going through its second jury trial. One of the accused was acquitted by a jury in December. That jury could not agree on verdicts for the other six. The suspects face up to 70 years in prison if convicted.