A United States federal appeals court upheld the convictions of five Somali pirates
on Wednesday, making clear that the definition of piracy includes
violent attempts to hijack a ship even if unsuccessful.
The Fourth United States Circuit Court of Appeals, based in Richmond,
Va., upheld what federal prosecutors described as the first United
States piracy convictions in 190 years, finding that an individual did
not have to seize or rob a ship to have committed piracy. The court
rejected an effort by five Somali men to overturn their convictions for
attacking a United States Navy
ship, the Warship Nicholas, that they mistook for a merchant vessel in
April 2010. The men were sentenced to life in prison, the punishment for
piracy, and an additional 80 years.
In a separate decision, the Fourth Circuit also reversed the dismissal
of piracy charges against Somali defendants in a case stemming from a
thwarted attack on another Navy ship, the Ashland. (REUTERS)
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