First piracy trial in 200 years opens in Norfolk court

Tim McGlone -

Jury selection Tuesday in the federal trial of five Somali nationals accused of attacking the frigate Nicholas gave a pretty good indication of the demographics of Hampton Roads.

More than 80 percent of the jury pool said they had direct ties to the military. But only four prospective jurors said they could not be unbiased because of those ties.

Opening statements in the trial are expected today after jury selection consumed all of Tuesday in U.S. District Court.

This is the first piracy trial this country has seen in nearly 200 years.

The five Somalis were brought into the courthouse wearing their jail-issued jumpsuits. They then changed into dress shirts, pants and borrowed sport coats before heading into the courtroom.

The Somalis each had an ear piece and were listening to the proceedings through an interpreter. Before the jurors were brought in, U.S. District Judge Mark S. Davis admonished prosecutors, the defendants and their five attorneys to behave.

"No antics," he warned. "I want this to be a serious and straight forward trial."

The Somalis are charged in a 14-count indictment with piracy, attack to plunder a vessel, assault and related charges in the April 1 early morning attack on the Norfolk-based Nicholas. Piracy, the most serious charge, carries a mandatory term of life in prison.

Some of the Somalis are expected to say at the trial that they were forced to take part in ship attacks off the Somali coast by the real pirates, who got away that day. They also are expected to say they were lost at sea and only fired a weapon to get help from the U.S. Navy ship.

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