Several hundred prospective jurors have come to a Manhattan courthouse to fill out questionnaires aimed at gauging their eligibility for the first civilian trial of a Guantanamo Bay detainee.
In brief remarks, federal Judge Lewis Kaplan told them Wednesday that they will be anonymous if they're chosen for the trial of Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani. He said the trial will start next week with oral questioning of prospective jurors. A copy of the 30-page questionnaire was not immediately released publicly.
Ghailani has pleaded not guilty to charges that he joined a 1998 conspiracy to bomb two U.S. embassies in Africa. The attacks killed 224 people, including a dozen Americans.
Opening statements are expected Oct. 4
Copyright AP - Associated Press
