Wednesday, June 5, 2013

June 2013 Virginia Trial Court Case and a likely Death Penalty could further curb Piracy


Experts said that the June 2013 Virginia Federal Court Jury Selection for the Piracy case which led to deaths in 2011 is an important precedent that could further curb piracy.

In 2011, four Americans were held aboard their yacht by Somali pirates and had been shadowed in the Indian Ocean by a U.S. aircraft carrier, two guided-missile destroyers and a cruiser.

When one of the destroyers neared the 58-foot sailing boat, gunfire erupted. By the time Navy SEALs reached the Quest, the four Americans had been fatally shot -- the first time U.S. citizens were killed in a wave of piracy that has rippled our from the coast of Somalia in recent years.

An African research associate stated, "The fact that the death penalty is being looked for is potentially a massive deterrent, and I think there will be lots of debate in Somalia about it."


Read more here: 

http://seafarertimes.com/2013-14/node/862 

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/41715530/ns/world_news-africa/t/four-american-hostages-killed-somali-pirates/#.Ua9G4edkOSo

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