Teen Somali Pirate Pleads to 27 Years

By Jeralyn, Section Terror Trials
Posted on Wed May 19, 2010 at 04:02:35 AM EST
Tags: Abduwali Abdukhadir Muse (all tags)

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Abduwali Abdukhadir Muse, pleaded guilty in New York yesterday to charges arising from the hijacking of the U.S.S. Maersk Alabama in Apri l 2009.

As part of the agreement, prosecutors said they would seek a sentence of at least 27 years but no more than 33 years and 9 months. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 19.

What about his age? His lawyers expect he'll get a break from it at sentencing.

Although he agreed to be judged as an adult as part of the agreement, one of his court-appointed lawyers, Philip L. Weinstein, made clear in court on Tuesday that his age could be used as a mitigating factor at sentencing.

Muse's reward for pleading guilty was the Government's agreement to drop the most serious charge against him which would have brought a mandatory life sentence: “the crime of piracy as defined by the law of nations,”

At a hearing last year, Mr. Muse’s father testified via telephone from Somalia that his son was born Nov. 20, 1993 — making him 15 at the time of the April 8, 2009, hijacking. And his son again on Tuesday told Judge Preska that he was born in 1993.

Assuming Muse was 17 when captured, not 15, he'll be 18 going into prison. With no parole (just good time) he'll be coming out around age 40. Then what? He's deported back to Somalia, where his parents likely will be dead. He won't fit in there and we won't let him stay here. Another ruined life. Here'a a group that will have something to offer him on release: The Somali Islamist rebel group al-Shabab has confirmed for the first time that its fighters are aligned with al-Qaeda's global militant campaign. If Muse is as angry at the Government for taking 30 years of his life for his crimes,that anger may turn to blind hatred The Somalis will welcome him with open arms upon his return.

Prisons, especially those that are maximum security, would freak out any 18 year old.I wonder if they'll ship him to Supermax. Richard Reid, the Unabomber and the first WTCc bombers could take him under their wing, and the Cartel guys could teach him their business -- they've probably figured out all their mistakes and would pass them along as idle chit-chat. Muse will be lucky if he's nor pounded on and pulverized while serving his sentence.

I still don't see the point of flying him around the world to try in in the U.S. I think the final cost tally, when released, will be quite high.

America, Prison Nation.

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Teen Somali Pirate Pleads to 27 Years | 71 comments (71 topical)

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Could he have gotten a life sentence (none / 0) (#1)
by ruffian on Wed May 19, 2010 at 07:02:08 AM EST

in light of the recent supreme court decision? I guess so if it included chance of parole.

Is a max sentence going to deter any pirates? I doubt it. As with terrorists, there is an endless supply.

Here's hoping for a more reasonable sentence.

There is no provision for parole (none / 0) (#43)
by Peter G on Wed May 19, 2010 at 12:07:08 PM EST

under federal sentencing law for any offense committed since November 1, 1987.


Is it possible for a motivated person (none / 0) (#44)
by oculus on Wed May 19, 2010 at 12:09:07 PM EST

ob obtain GED while in federal custody? College degree?


: GED: definitely yes, and (none / 0) (#71)
by Peter G on Sat May 22, 2010 at 05:29:53 PM EST

highly encouraged. College degree, less so, but not impossible.

Catch a teenage pirate... (none / 0) (#2)
by kdog on Wed May 19, 2010 at 08:36:53 AM EST

from sh*tty circumstances, release a middle-aged master criminal with an axe to grind...John Law must be so proud.

Though in 27 years who knows...by then every sentence might be changed to life in a labor camp...especially for non-citizens.

We can only hope he's a better soul than our collective soul, if and when he gets out.

LOL ... (none / 0) (#3)
by nyrias on Wed May 19, 2010 at 09:02:55 AM EST

he is uneducated and a pirate, who kills, kidnap & rob for a living. We will deport him anyway after whatever years.

A better soul?

He should count himself lucky. His "comrades" are not so ... all got bullets to their heads.

You have too much guilt. May be you should volunteer to sing with him every nite to save his "soul".


Bullet to the head... (none / 0) (#5)
by kdog on Wed May 19, 2010 at 09:26:55 AM EST

might be the more compassionate thing.

"We will deport him anyway"...why not just do it now? Oh yeah..."gotta get our man", or in this case "boy".

Damn right I got guilt...federal prisons don't fund themselves. And federal prosecutors derive their power from this outfit called "the people".


: are you arguing ... (none / 0) (#8)
by nyrias on Wed May 19, 2010 at 09:33:54 AM EST

money is the issue here?
If so, we have to find cheaper ways like bullets as you have suggested, or may be penal colonies? Just drop him on a island with some food & stuff?
Oh, i have no problem deporting him now if he is going straight to a Somali prison. Where he rot in prison does not concern me.
Piracy is an economic crime, unlike terrorism so i doubt the pirates are "ideological". If you take away enough of their boats & personal, you probably can reduce the amount of piracy.

I Was Thinking Along Those Lines... (none / 0) (#4)
by ScottW714 on Wed May 19, 2010 at 09:12:01 AM EST

In 20+ years Somalia might not even exist, they might be our allies, or we might be the new Somalia if the militias get their way.

Kidding about the last blurb, but damn our Supreme Court is really starting to, literally, take our liberties for granted.

What the post fails to mention is what should we have done ? Form a International Tribunal for pirates, try him in Somalia, what do we do with foreigners who harm Americans in countries or international waters, that basically have no real form of government and/or system of justice ?


I think it best... (none / 0) (#7)
by kdog on Wed May 19, 2010 at 09:31:23 AM EST

to let Somolia handle it, even if it means them not handling it...thats where the crime occurred.

And if we must handle it, I think a college scholarship new lease on life would be more effective, and cheaper, than a 29 year sentence in the federal pen.


He'll face a different fate (5.00 / 1) (#39)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed May 19, 2010 at 11:52:14 AM EST

He'll face a different fate from some of his countrymen. Earlier today in Yemen, six Somali pirates were sentenced to death for hijacking a Yemeni oil tanker, also in April 2009, Reuters reported. One Yemeni crewmember was killed and another is missing and presumed dead.

or make prison cheaper ... (none / 0) (#9)
by nyrias on Wed May 19, 2010 at 09:35:22 AM EST

since you think money is such a big problem.

And giving a person who does not speak english with zero education a college scholarship? Now that is a waste of money.


Inhumanity... (none / 0) (#11)
by kdog on Wed May 19, 2010 at 09:59:54 AM EST

and inequality under the law are the main things...but the giant waste of dough is part of it.

Shake me when we crack down on our pirates docked on Wall St...then maybe I'll take a piracy crackdown seriously...until then its the same old story.

Maybe the kid would blow a shot at redemption and a new life with a free ride in school...but at least we're failing trying to do something positive instead of throwing another soul in the dungeon.


and you think the world is ... (none / 0) (#16)
by nyrias on Wed May 19, 2010 at 11:03:19 AM EST

fair?

So we throw him in the dungeon. At least one less pirate we need to worry about. That is positive for us. Surely not positive for him ... but there is no positive for him since the day he picked up a gun and became a pirate.

I do agree that prison in the US is expensive. May be we should outsource it to Somalia.

And you logic if baffling. You mean we should STOP enforcing INTERNATIONAL laws just because we didn't get all the bad guys on Wall Street. Really weird logic. On the same level as .. let free all the murderers because we haven't caught all the embezzlers and that is unfair to the murderers. I am sure it really flies with the public.


Were the actions to which he pleaded (none / 0) (#23)
by oculus on Wed May 19, 2010 at 11:23:11 AM EST

guilty "humane"?


No... (none / 0) (#29)
by kdog on Wed May 19, 2010 at 11:30:27 AM EST

they weren't humane or righteous acts, though they may have been necessary acts or survival.

Question for you...do two wrongs make a right?
Has he really given us no choice but to be inhumane right back? I don't think so...maybe if given a mulligan and he returns to piracy then I could see a stint in one of our cages...but not now, give him his first lucky break, a taste of kindness and forgiveness...and see what happens.


Two strikes rule. (none / 0) (#34)
by oculus on Wed May 19, 2010 at 11:44:56 AM EST

I think the federal government of the U.S. is making an example of Muse, and hoping to deter other wannabee pirates or those already in the profession. Probably futile goals. So we are really talking punishment and keeping this individual from commiting crimes for some years.


: just .. (none / 0) (#37)
by nyrias on Wed May 19, 2010 at 11:48:34 AM EST

imprisoning him is not enough.
Piracy is an economic crime. The best way is to make it not profitable.
Have the navy keep sinking their boats. Raid their assets (like get to their base and destroy their weapons .. weapons are not cheap). Deny them personnel (lock up more pirates).

"necessary acts of survival???" (none / 0) (#70)
by diogenes on Wed May 19, 2010 at 10:26:53 PM EST

"...they weren't humane or righteous acts, though they may have been necessary acts or survival."

No wonder that people don't trust liberals on law and order if they say stuff like this.


right (none / 0) (#25)
by CST on Wed May 19, 2010 at 11:25:22 AM EST

because if you don't speak english and you haven't been educated you MUST be an idiot who can't learn.

Or maybe if you educate someone who hasn't been educated they go from someone who sees no way out besides criminal activity to a productive member of society. Personally, I'd much rather have a productive member of society running around than someone who sees no way out.


"may be" (none / 0) (#28)
by nyrias on Wed May 19, 2010 at 11:28:32 AM EST

is the operating phrase.

May be he will see the opportunity to kidnap some rich kids and ask for random.

You know, old habits die hard.

Personally, I would much rather NOT have him anywhere close to our community. It is not like we have a lack of people here.


for what it's worth (none / 0) (#31)
by CST on Wed May 19, 2010 at 11:31:01 AM EST

I wasn't even talking about the pirate in question.

But the callousness of your comment stuck out. Because in my mind, that could apply to many situations if that's your point of view. Gee, if you're uneducated we should just throw you out with the bathwater because you're not worth our time and money.


Let's be clear about this (none / 0) (#64)
by nyrias on Wed May 19, 2010 at 03:24:01 PM EST

I am talking to THIS person in particular.

He is certainly not worth a whole lot because he was a career criminal.

I am NOT saying people who does not speak English and with no education is worthless. There are plenty of pretty worthy straight up people .. say in rural China. However, I am questioning if THIS pirate can take advantage of a scholarship.


right (none / 0) (#68)
by CST on Wed May 19, 2010 at 04:47:04 PM EST

and I'm sure that's why you gave his education and language level as the reason not to send him to college.

WTF was the point of that statement then?

I seriously doubt you have ever been to rural China or Africa. Because if you had you would not write them off as uneducated people who don't speak English. Although I'm glad you don't think all people who can't speak English are worthless. Because frankly the English in that post was atrocious.

So nice try, but I don't buy it, not for a second. Your true colors show up all over this thread.

But hey, I hope you have a nice day, and that you never find yourself in a situation where you feel the need to choose between crime or food.


: my day is just nice enough... (none / 0) (#69)
by nyrias on Wed May 19, 2010 at 05:07:43 PM EST

and a little nicer because a pirate is going to be behind bars for a long long time.
And of course his education & language proficiency are reasons. You think he can handle being in college? Are YOU willing to fund him? Don't sign MY money up for it.
LOL ... now FOOD is an excuse to turn into pirates? What are YOU doing to make excuse for next? Murder? Rape?

"He always praised his life in America. (none / 0) (#42)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed May 19, 2010 at 12:02:04 PM EST

"He [Muse] always praised his life in America. He told me, 'I'm in a nice place, better than Somalia. Mom, I feel bad for you. I'm happy and studying,'" she [Muse's Mom] said.

Good (none / 0) (#60)
by CST on Wed May 19, 2010 at 02:15:11 PM EST

glad to see he is taking advantage.

Like I said before though, I wasn't talking specifically about this person. I just found the comment I responded to be pretty offensive as it seemed very broad in nature - that anyone who is uneducated and can't speak English is essentially worthless to society.

And frankly, considering the rest of that person's comments on this thread - I think I am correct in my understanding of that comment. I do not think you share those views.

If Muse uses his time in prison here to educate himself and better his situation in life than more power to him. I think he will be much better off when he eventually leaves prison at 40 if he has.


No worries, (none / 0) (#61)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed May 19, 2010 at 02:29:03 PM EST

I just wanted to put the quote somewhere.


btw, Muse's Mom (none / 0) (#62)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed May 19, 2010 at 02:30:36 PM EST

has requested that Obama free her son and grant him US citizenship.


: heh (none / 0) (#63)
by CST on Wed May 19, 2010 at 02:35:31 PM EST

good luck with that.
It was a good quote as well. It's nice to see something positive come out of all of this.

I'm confused (none / 0) (#10)
by jbindc on Wed May 19, 2010 at 09:58:09 AM EST

You think the government ruined his life and nit his own actions??

You willing to pay my student loans?? At least I'm not a convicted felon and I'm a productive member of society. Sorry pal, there are millions more worthy of your generosity.


I think circumstances... (none / 0) (#12)
by kdog on Wed May 19, 2010 at 10:02:27 AM EST

set him up to fail more than anything...the birth lottery. And I'm not too keen on judging, I haven't walked no mile in a 15 year old Somalis shoes...if I were him I mighta turned to piracy too...beats starving.


Did He Kill Anyone ? (5.00 / 1) (#36)
by ScottW714 on Wed May 19, 2010 at 11:48:31 AM EST

You mentioned letting Somolia handle this. I am positive the crimes were committed in International Waters. I don't see how Somalia would have standing to try him, plus who in the hell is going to testify in Somalia, if their courts even permit such luxuries.

Rewarding him, with a college education is absurd. Prison isn't meant to be cost effective, we could easily give all criminals their cost of confinement checks and most could live nice lives. We don't do that because most have done things that we as a whole, society, have decided are crimes we disapprove to such a degree that the perpetrators don't deserve the most basic right, freedom.

Life's lottery is life. It's one thing to be born in complete and utter poverty, it's quite another to join a team of criminals who take hostages and occasionally kill people. By your reasoning anyone born to dyer consequences should be given a pass on crime. That would included most of the mafia and drug cartel crimes committed.

I agree that if he didn't kill anyone 20+ years seems excessive, but if he truly was borne to circumstances so vile that pirating was his only real option, then the US prison system has to be a step up. I am positive given the choice, this young man would choice a US prison over a Somalian prison.

So which is more humane ?


That may be the case (none / 0) (#13)
by jbindc on Wed May 19, 2010 at 10:44:23 AM EST

Do some people have it harder than others? Yes. Does it suck? Yes. Should we try to help them and set good examples? Absolutely. But to not only excuse someone for bad (and felonious) behavior, but reward them, because they had it hard, is ridiculous. He made a choice - now he owns it. He knew it was wrong and illegal, otherwise he wouldn't have had a gun and tried to evade capture.

Do I sympathize that he may have (wrongly) perceived this to be his only choice? Yes, but he still doesn't get a free pass. Hopefully, he can avail himself of educational opportunities so when he gets out at 40 (or more likely, before that), he can do something productive. But don't ask us to reward him.


Fair enough... (none / 0) (#14)
by kdog on Wed May 19, 2010 at 10:53:44 AM EST

don't "reward" him...but lets not add another 29 year kick to the gut...thats just stupid.


why not? (none / 0) (#18)
by nyrias on Wed May 19, 2010 at 11:05:40 AM EST

Keep him out of society is a good thing. He won't fit in anyway.


I'd take him over any number... (none / 0) (#22)
by kdog on Wed May 19, 2010 at 11:22:47 AM EST

of members of society in good standing with John Law...as far as we know he's just a kid who never stood a chance, given a chance who knows how well he could fit in...and there is virtue in trying as opposed to throwing him away.


really? (none / 0) (#30)
by nyrias on Wed May 19, 2010 at 11:30:58 AM EST

Why don't you move to Somalia then? You will be with those whom you will "take over any number of members of society".

Words are cheap. Have some action, man!

As far as I know, he is a pirate who used WEAPONS to KIDNAP a captain of another ship. The only reason we are having this debate is because he lucked out and the seals who busted his buddies exercised some restraint.


I'm straight... (none / 0) (#38)
by kdog on Wed May 19, 2010 at 11:49:50 AM EST

American pirates live in nicer neighborhoods than I (No SEALS on the case though...odd that), and we're not all bad....just as I'd guess this kid ain't all bad.

Maybe the trick is for Americans and other wealthy nations to stop parading their opulence past Somali shores...and getting all outraged when Somalis go for a slice.


"Parading" humanitarian supplies. (5.00 / 1) (#40)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed May 19, 2010 at 11:58:43 AM EST

Prosecutors say Muse led four pirates who stormed the Maersk Alabama in April 2009 as it carried humanitarian supplies 280 miles (450 kilometers) off Somalia's coast.

If they'd known... (none / 0) (#49)
by kdog on Wed May 19, 2010 at 12:53:31 PM EST

I wonder if they woulda picked another ship...but probably not, the head pirates are just as shady as our head financiers.

Throwing the book at this kid is like throwing the book at one of the secretaries at Goldman....yeah, maybe they should know better than to work for dogs, but like everybody else sometimes ya gotta sell your soul a little to get by.


Have you identified w/pirates since (none / 0) (#51)
by oculus on Wed May 19, 2010 at 01:00:43 PM EST

early childhood? Capt. Hook over Peter Pan and Wendy, for example?


Nah... (none / 0) (#52)
by kdog on Wed May 19, 2010 at 01:05:02 PM EST

I related to Peter Pan (never grow up, grown-ups suck)...but always admired a good non-violent Bank Robber..

The violence the Somali pirates use bothers me...but I still can't help but root for 'em a little..."I don't believe in lying back, saying how bad your luck is." - Joe Strummer


: "Marijuana Fuels a New Kitchen (none / 0) (#57)
by oculus on Wed May 19, 2010 at 01:55:32 PM EST

Culture." NYT Dining section
Didn't want you to miss these culinary opportunities in the New York City area.

"Throwing the book at this kid?" (none / 0) (#53)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed May 19, 2010 at 01:19:14 PM EST

Prosecutors dropped charges of piracy and possession of a machine gun

for which he would have gotten life.


: I think its a crime... (none / 0) (#54)
by kdog on Wed May 19, 2010 at 01:35:01 PM EST

not to have a machine gun in Somalia...he's just following local custom there bro.
But I stand corrected, we coulda thrown the White Pages, but only threw the Yellow...mighty white of us.

lol .. u have a warp sense of (none / 0) (#65)
by nyrias on Wed May 19, 2010 at 03:28:28 PM EST

fairness.

Secretaries' job does NOT involve shady financial dealings (i am talking about those who only answer phones and book travel for their bosses).

This "kid" went to OTHER PEOPLE's ship, use violence and coercion.

If you think there is no difference, I think your world view is as skew as right wing nuts, just in a different direction.

Plus, you are totally hypocritical. If they are such "lost potential", why don't u do something about it?


Kdog (none / 0) (#41)
by jbindc on Wed May 19, 2010 at 11:58:47 AM EST

Let me ask you something: you claim to be a liberatarian who stands for little governmental interference. Fair enough. However, when anybody anywhere gets prosecuted and convicted, it seems your first reaction is that the cops and prosecutors are corrupt and out to get someone who just made a mistake, or who partook in an activity you don't believe should be illegal. Those are two separate issues: on one hand, you have a problem with the law itself. Again, fair enough.

Here's my question- do you ever look at a case and see thst someone should be held responsible for the choices they made to land them in front if a judge? Or is no one responsible and it's the cops' and prosecutors' fault for enforcing the law? It just seems you never say someone got exactly what they deserve, so I'm just curious...


Yeah... (none / 0) (#50)
by kdog on Wed May 19, 2010 at 01:00:05 PM EST

lwop for serial murders or serial child molesters who give us no choice...I got no problem with those sentences, and no problem with individuals being held responsible for lesser wrongdoing.

My main beef is with how we hold them responsible, and the inequality under the law by which we hold responsible. We're way too reliant on long sentences to cages...and the law says one kinda piracy is "good business" and another is a crime.

Everybody has got their pet peeve jb...and one of my biggies is barbarism done under the banner of "the people"...which includes you and I. If 27 years for a teenage pirate is the best "holding responsible" we can come up with...well than we suck and I wan't no part of it...we're no better than the pirates...sh*t maybe worse.


This was no kid (none / 0) (#55)
by jbindc on Wed May 19, 2010 at 01:43:51 PM EST

As pointed out below, he confessed he was between 18 and 19 years old.


He can't drink in the USA... (none / 0) (#56)
by kdog on Wed May 19, 2010 at 01:49:26 PM EST

that means he's a kid.


: Drinking (none / 0) (#58)
by jbindc on Wed May 19, 2010 at 02:01:58 PM EST

Is not a measure of being an adult.

lol (none / 0) (#59)
by squeaky on Wed May 19, 2010 at 02:06:52 PM EST

As if that matters one iota to you how old he is.


: he confessed he was between 18 and 19 years old. (none / 0) (#67)
by nyrias on Wed May 19, 2010 at 03:32:16 PM EST

It is not like he is 10.

Then you can .. (none / 0) (#66)
by nyrias on Wed May 19, 2010 at 03:31:15 PM EST

leave. No one is holding you back.

Or is it one of those "i will leave if bush gets elected" and "wait .. i still like the life here .. let's me whine some more".

You don't like wall street. Fine I get that. That does not mean that piracy is acceptable. This is the oldest intellectually bankrupt argument. The solution is NOT to be lenient to pirates. The solution is to punish wall street crimes more.


sure ... (none / 0) (#17)
by nyrias on Wed May 19, 2010 at 11:05:06 AM EST

circumstances may push him to do it.

Do we care? Do YOU care WHY a lion is mauling people? You still put it down.


Another ruined life. (none / 0) (#6)
by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Wed May 19, 2010 at 09:29:21 AM EST

He's deported back to Somalia, where his parents likely will be dead. He won't fit in there and we won't let him stay here. Another ruined life. Here'a a group that will have something to offer him on release: The Somali Islamist rebel group al-Shabab has confirmed for the first time that its fighters are aligned with al-Qaeda's global militant campaign. If Muse is as angry at the Government for taking 30 years of his life for his crimes,that anger may turn to blind hatred The Somalis will welcome him with open arms upon his return. will welcome him with outstretched arms

Well choosing to be a pirate can ruin your life. No doubt about that.

As you point out ending the quite effective practice of hanging pirates has quite the down side for the rest of the human population.

He was 15 (none / 0) (#47)
by Watermark on Wed May 19, 2010 at 12:18:27 PM EST

he had probably been pressganged into piracy by a Somali warlord as a child. This is like criticizing a slave for being a slave.


: Mr. Muse, after giving different ages (none / 0) (#48)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed May 19, 2010 at 12:20:23 PM EST

Mr. Muse, after giving different ages, said he had been untruthful, apologized and said he was "between 18 and 19."

What a Waste (none / 0) (#15)
by squeaky on Wed May 19, 2010 at 10:58:39 AM EST

Another human being's potential thrown into the shredder.

And we are supposed to be the grown ups, seems more like lord of the flies, to me.

There are ... (none / 0) (#19)
by nyrias on Wed May 19, 2010 at 11:06:51 AM EST

6B humans. Almost 300M in the US. Some are inevitably lost.

Not act as if human being potential is anything special.


Sadism Much? (none / 0) (#20)
by squeaky on Wed May 19, 2010 at 11:10:10 AM EST

Why don't you just get a job as executioner somewhere?


: your logic fails .... (none / 0) (#21)
by nyrias on Wed May 19, 2010 at 11:15:27 AM EST

you assume i care enough.
Plus, why don't you go over to Somalia and "educate" these people? Or use your power of love to "change their ways"?
It smacks of being a hypocrite when all you do is criticize. If you like their "human potential" so much, why don't you do something about it?

So (none / 0) (#46)
by Watermark on Wed May 19, 2010 at 12:17:03 PM EST

what's the big deal if I go down the street and put bullets in random peoples heads? I can't possibly get to a large enough number to effect 300M. No big deal.


Juvenile pirates attacking ships does (none / 0) (#26)
by oculus on Wed May 19, 2010 at 11:26:21 AM EST

remind me of "Lord of the Flies."


"If Muse is as angry at the Government" (none / 0) (#24)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed May 19, 2010 at 11:24:41 AM EST

If Muse is as angry at the Government for taking 30 years of his life for his crimes,that anger may turn to blind hatred The Somalis will welcome him with open arms upon his return.

I love this line of thinking, and I see it a lot on TL. Enforcement of law creates monsters hell-bent on revenge - and rightly so. What a crock.

Seems we need to know a bit more (none / 0) (#27)
by oculus on Wed May 19, 2010 at 11:28:19 AM EST

about persons accused on crime before we can determine whether no punishment would be good or bad for the individual.


Who cares about .. (none / 0) (#32)
by nyrias on Wed May 19, 2010 at 11:33:35 AM EST

good for the individual. They are criminals (of course after due process, and presumed innocent ... i hate getting the wrong guy as much as you do).

Good for society .. that is .. NOT having them in it .. is more important.

So they threw their lives away. Plenty of other people (rural china, africa) have no life too. They are not special.


: My comment was snarkish. (none / 0) (#33)
by oculus on Wed May 19, 2010 at 11:42:40 AM EST

At a hearing last year, Mr. Muse's father (none / 0) (#35)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed May 19, 2010 at 11:47:12 AM EST

At a hearing last year, Mr. Muse's father testified via telephone from Somalia that his son was born Nov. 20, 1993 -- making him 15 at the time of the April 8, 2009, hijacking. And his son again on Tuesday told Judge Preska that he was born in 1993.

But a New York police detective, Frederick Galloway, told a federal magistrate judge last year that Mr. Muse, after giving different ages, said he had been untruthful, apologized and said he was "between 18 and 19."
The judge, Andrew J. Peck, ruled last year in favor of the prosecutors that Mr. Muse was an adult.

I would have preferred a sentence of around 20 yea (none / 0) (#45)
by Watermark on Wed May 19, 2010 at 12:11:04 PM EST

But I'm just glad they didn't decide to give him a full life sentence.

However, most of these pirate are trained as child soldiers from a young age. His minds been so damaged that it may not be possible for him to live in normal society again.