Prosecution rests in sailor terror case

[unhappycamper]

Prosecution rests in sailor terror case
By John Christoffersen - The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Feb 29, 2008 15:37:59 EST

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Federal prosecutors played for jurors secretly taped phone conversations Friday in an effort to show that a former Navy sailor charged with leaking ship movements to suspected terrorism supporters used coded speech to discuss intelligence related to military bases.

In the calls, Hassan Abu-Jihaad, 32, of Phoenix, speaks of “fresh meals” and “cold meals” in conversations with associates. A “fresh meal” referred to useful information, while “cold meal” was code for outdated intelligence, prosecutors said.

Abu-Jihaad has pleaded not guilty to federal charges alleging he provided material support to terrorists and disclosed classified national defense information. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison.

Prosecutors rested their case Friday. Defense attorneys do not plan to call Abu-Jihaad to the stand and say they will rest their case after calling one witness Monday.

Abu-Jihaad, an American-born Muslim convert formerly known as Paul R. Hall, is accused of leaking information that could have endangered his own ship, the guided-missile destroyer Benfold, and other ships. He was a Navy signalman and received an honorable discharge in 2002.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/02/ap_navyterror_022908/