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December 22, 2005
UK: Muslim Who Hunted War Hero Guilty Of Terrorism
We reported on December 8 of the trial of Abu Baker Mansha, a British Muslim who was charged under the Terrorism Act. He had in his possession a blank-firing pistol which had been modified to fire live bullets.
The prosecution claimed that 21-year old market stall holder Mansha (pictured) had planned to use the gun to kill a decorated war hero, Corporal Mark Byles, who had received a bravery award, the Military Cross. It was claimed at the trial that Mansha had read that Byles had killed 20 insurgents in Iraq, which had been stated in a report by the Sun newspaper, a copy of which was found in his home and bore his fingerprints.
Mansha, who lived in Arnott Close, Thames Mead in south-east London, gained Corporal Byles' address from the Portsmouth electoral register (Byles had moved from this address). Mansha wrote the address on a piece of paper and this was discovered by the police.
The Times and the Telegraph announce that a jury of seven men and five women convicted Manhsa, by a majority verdict of ten to two, of one count under Section 58 (1b) of the Terrorism Act, i.e. that information he possessed was "likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism".
During the trial, jurors were told that Mansha had also included a rich Jewish man and a Hindu businessman as his potential "targets".
The judge in the case at Southwark Crown Court, Nicholas Loraine-Smith, adjourned the case until January 26, when Mansha will be sentenced, saying he needed a pre-sentence report. Mansha has a previous conviction for affray after a racial confrontation with another trader at the market where he worked, from three years ago. He has been remanded in custody until his reappearance in court. He could face a possible sentence of 10 years' imprisonment.
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at December 22, 2005 10:22 PM
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