Plane hijacking trial near its end
Prosecutors and defense lawyers make their closing statements in a federal hijacking trial in Key West, and jurors must decide the fates of six men. Is the alleged lead hijacker an innocent who followed his lifelong dreams and a higher-up’s escape plan, or the ”daddy” of a ”bizarre” and ”laughable” scheme to force a plane by knife point from Cuba to Key West? Jurors heard both characterizations of Alexis Norneilla Morales in a federal courthouse in Key West, as one defense lawyer and the prosecution gave closing arguments Tuesday in the hijacking trial of six Cuban men: Norneilla, Eduardo Mejia Morales, Yainer Olivares Samon, Neudis Infantes Hernandez, Alvenis Arias Izquierdo and Miakel Guerra Morales. Each man is charged with air piracy, interfering with a flight crew and conspiracy for their alleged roles in redirecting a domestic Cuban flight on March 19 to Key West using knives and packing tape. They could be sent to prison for life if convicted. Full Story