TAMPA, Fla., May 18 (UPI) -- Jury selection in the trial of a former professor charged with helping fund terrorism is progressing and the trial may not be moved from Tampa, Fla.
U.S. District Judge James Moody has shown he is willing to accept jurors who know about the case and say they can be impartial, the St. Petersburg Times reported Wednesday.
In two days of questioning, Moody has accepted 70 of 100 jurors who were questioned. He is expected to rule on a change of venue in the next week or so.
Former University of South Florida computer science professor Sami Al-Arian and three codefendants are charged in a 53-count indictment of racketing, conspiracy and providing material support to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Twelve jurors and seven alternates have to be seated before the trial begins. Opening statements are tentatively scheduled for June 6.
It had been speculated the trial would be moved because of the intense publicity produced by his tenure at the university and the fact it became an significant issue in a campaign for the Senate.
