No delay in Fort Dix plot trial

Published: Sept. 9, 2008 at 4:41 PM CAMDEN, N.J., Sept. 9 (UPI) -- A federal judge in New Jersey refused Tuesday to delay the trial of five immigrants charged with plotting a terrorist attack on Fort Dix.

U.S. District Judge Robert Kugler said that jury selection will begin Sept. 29, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

Defense lawyers had asked for a delay because a former federal drug agent they hoped would testify as an expert is about to be deployed to Iraq. But they said at Tuesday's hearing that they had learned Army rules would bar him from testifying against the government.

The defendants are three brothers, Shain, Dritan and Eljvir Duka, all of Cherry Hill, N.J., and Mohamad Shnewer, also of Cherry Hill, and Serdar Tartar of Philadelphia. The brothers are illegal immigrants from Albania, Shnewer, originally from Jordan, a naturalized citizen, and Tartar, from Turkey, a legal resident.

The defense argues that government informants used illegitimate techniques to entrap the five. Kugler said that the defense has time to find another expert since the prosecution case is expected to take up several weeks.



http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/09/09/ ... 220992917/