Friday, November 15, 2013
newsinsA federal judge sentenced two more Somali pirates to life in prison
without parole for their roles in the shooting deaths of four Americans
aboard their yacht off the coast of Africa.
Chief District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith sentenced 33-year-old Abukar
Osman Beyle and 31-year-old Shani Nurani Shiekh Abrar to serve 21 life
sentences in all, 19 of them consecutively, during hearings on Wednesday
and Thursday. They each received the same term as Ahmed Muse Salad, 27,
who was sentenced on Tuesday. Prosecutors had originally sought the
death penalty, but a jury didn't agree to that sentence.
"The multiple, consecutive life sentences imposed today send a clear
message that piracy, hostage-taking, and murder on the high seas will
not be tolerated," acting U.S. Attorney Dana J. Boente said in a
statement.
The three men were among 19 who boarded the 58-foot yacht in hopes of
taking the Americans back to Somalia so they could be ransomed for
millions of dollars. The plan fell apart when the U.S. Navy began
shadowing the boat. Sailors had told the pirates they could keep the
yacht and a small Navy boat in exchange for the hostages, but the
pirates refused to take the deal because they didn't believe they would
get enough money. Furthermore, the only person authorized to negotiate
the Americans' release was based on land in Somalia.
With the yacht nearing the Somali coastline, the destroyer USS Sterett
began maneuvering between the Quest and the Somali shore when a
rocket-propelled grenade was fired at it. Soon after, dozens of gunshots
were fired on board the Quest. By the time U.S. Navy SEALs scrambled on
board, the Americans had been mortally wounded. Four pirates had also
died in the exchange.
The yacht's owners, Jean and Scott Adam of Marina del Rey, Calif., and
their friends, Bob Riggle and Phyllis Macay of Seattle, were the first
Americans to be killed in a wave of pirate attacks that have plagued the
Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean in recent years.
Prosecutors said the three men who were sentenced this week were among a
group of more aggressive pirates who favored killing the Americans
rather than surrendering to the Navy. Prosecutors say the men repeatedly
fired AK-47s at the Americans, who were shot 41 times.
In addition to the murder charges, the men were also convicted of kidnapping, hostage taking and piracy, among other things.
Eleven other men who boarded the yacht have already been sentenced to
life in prison, although those sentences may eventually be reduced for
cooperating with prosecutors. One person was released by U.S.
authorities following the shootings because he was juvenile.
Brock Vergakis can be reached at www.twitter.com/BrockVergakis