Somali pirates sentenced to life in US prison

[SpartanDem]

Source: AFP

WASHINGTON — A US court sentenced five Somali pirates to life in prison on Monday for attacking an American frigate last year on an anti-piracy mission off the east coast of Africa.

The Somalis, the first people to be convicted of piracy in the United States since 1820, received an additional 80 years each for firearms and other piracy-related charges during a four-hour hearing in Norfolk, Virginia.

"Today marks the longest sentence ever given to a pirate in US court, following the first time in over 190 years that an American jury has convicted a defendant of piracy," federal attorney Neil MacBride said.

The five were convicted in November on charges including piracy, attacking to plunder a maritime vessel and assault with a dangerous weapon for their roles in the April 2010 attack on the USS Nicholas, which they believed to be a merchant vessel.



Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gAWJfqdDmhVtW3bT50N_s-C8_Nvg?docId=CNG.9cac656ee218c88029a4490458898142.831

[pitchforksandtorches]

1. You may be interested to know

that global warming, earthquakes, hurricanes, and other natural disasters are a direct effect of the shrinking numbers of Pirates since the 1800s. For your interest, I have included a graph of the approximate number of pirates versus the average global temperature over the last 200 years. As you can see, there is a statistically significant inverse relationship between pirates and global temperature.

[Throd]

2. However, those deaths are offset by an increase in fatal unicycle accidents.

My friend's cousin's girlfriend saw it on the internet.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

13. Obviously, we need to increase the number of pirates.

As an aside, the chart would be better if the x-axis indicated the inverse of the number of individuals employed, so to speak, as pirates.

[cliffordu]

3. This whole subject is kinda AAAAAAARRRRRDUOUS!!!!!!

[IcyPeas]

4. 3 square meals for life.... priceless

[mahatmakanejeeves]

5. Va Judge Sentences Five Somali Pirates to Life

Source: CNN (and AP)

By the CNN Wire Staff
March 15, 2011 -- Updated 1013 GMT (1813 HKT)

(CNN) -- Five Somali men were sentenced Monday to life plus 80 years in prison for engaging in piracy and related offenses in last year's attack on a U.S. warship in the Indian Ocean, federal officials announced Monday.

"Today marks the longest sentence ever given to a pirate in U.S. court, following the first time in over 190 years that an American jury has convicted a defendant of piracy," Neil H. MacBride, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, said in a statement. "Today's sentences should send a clear message to those who attempt to engage in piracy: Armed attacks on U.S.-flagged vessels carry severe consequences in U.S. courts."
....

The sentencing occurred in Norfolk before Judge Mark Davis, MacBride said. He called the sentences, which do not include the possibility of parole, the longest ever given out to pirates.

The pirate statute, which dates to the early years of this country, carries a mandatory life sentence.

Read more: http://edition.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/03/14/virginia.somali.pirates/#

---

Sentencing was Monday, but the news just now seems to be filtering out.

[Poll_Blind]

6. Fed, clothed and housed forever- better than many "free" Americans living on the...

...streets.

PB

[bossy22]

7. not to mention free healthcare

[ret5hd]

8. why don't you volunteer?

[Poll_Blind]

9. For what?

:shrug:

PB

[Llewlladdwr]

11. I believe it's being suggested you volunteer for prison.

It being such a cushy deal and all...

[slackmaster]

10. Good for everyone involved

:hi:

[FLPanhandle]

12. We've gone soft on pirates compared to the olden days.

Back then they'd get a slow public hanging followed by a hanging in chains while their bodies decomposed.

These pirates better be glad they didn't get caught in the 16th and 17th century.

[Auntie Bush]

14. All those that wanted to come to the US got their wish.