Just-in: US trial begins of Islamic State ‘Beatle’
The trial of an alleged member of the notorious Islamic State (IS) kidnap-and-murder cell known as the “Beatles” began on Tuesday.
El Shafee Elsheikh, 33, is charged with murdering American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, as well as relief workers Peter Kassig and Kayla Mueller.
T.S. Ellis, US District Judge, has stated that he expects jury selection to last one day, with opening arguments beginning on Wednesday.
Elsheikh and another former British national, Alexanda Amon Kotey, 37, were apprehended by Kurdish forces in Syria in January 2018 while attempting to flee to Turkey.
They were handed over to US forces in Iraq and will be flown to Virginia in October 2020 to face charges of hostage-taking, conspiracy to murder US citizens, and other offenses.
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