Legal Commentary

Teen Somali Pirate Pleads to 27 Years

By Jeralyn

Abduwali Abdukhadir Muse, pleaded guilty in New York yesterday to charges arising from the hijacking of the U.S.S. Maersk Alabama in Apri l 2009.

As part of the agreement, prosecutors said they would seek a sentence of at least 27 years but no more than 33 years and 9 months. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 19.

What about his age? His lawyers expect he'll get a break from it at sentencing.

Although he agreed to be judged as an adult as part of the agreement, one of his court-appointed lawyers, Philip L. Weinstein, made clear in court on Tuesday that his age could be used as a mitigating factor at sentencing.

Muse's reward for pleading guilty was the Government's agreement to drop the most serious charge against him which would have brought a mandatory life sentence: “the crime of piracy as defined by the law of nations,” > America, Prison Nation, we never learn.

At a hearing last year, Mr. Muse’s father testified via telephone from Somalia that his son was born Nov. 20, 1993 — making him 15 at the time of the April 8, 2009, hijacking. And his son again on Tuesday told Judge Preska that he was born in 1993.

Assuming Muse was 17 when captured, not 15, he'll be 18 going into prison. With no parole (just good time) he'll be coming out around age 40. Then what? He's deported back to Somalia, where his parents likely will be dead. He won't fit in there and we won't let him stay here. Another ruined life. Here'a a group that will have something to offer him on release: The Somali Islamist rebel group al-Shabab has confirmed for the first time that its fighters are aligned with al-Qaeda's global militant campaign. If Muse is as angry at the Government for taking 30 years of his life for his crimes,that anger may turn to blind hatred The Somalis will welcome him with open arms upon his return. will welcome him with outstretched arms

Prisons, especially those that are maximum security, would freak out any 18 year old.I wonder if they'll ship him to Supermax. Richard Reid, the Unabomber and the first WTCc bombers could take him under their wing, and the Cartel guys could teach him their business -- they've probably figured out all their mistakes and would pass them along as idle chit-chat. Muse will be lucky if he's nor pounded on and pulverized while serving his sentence.

I still don't see the point of flying him around the world to try in in the U.S. I think the final cost tally, when released, will be quite high.

America, Prison Nation.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on May 19, 2010 (boomark / email).

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