CAMDEN, N.J., Dec. 16 (UPI) -- Lawyers for five young Muslim men charged with conspiring to attack Fort Dix in New Jersey argued Tuesday that they were just frustrated and talking tough.
Closing arguments ended with a rebuttal from a federal prosecutor, The Star-Ledger of Newark reported. The jury was expected to begin deliberations Wednesday morning on the fate of three brothers, Shain, Eljvir and Dritan Duka, Mohamad Ibrahim Shnewer and Serdar Tatar.
Lawyers for the defendants asked the jury for an acquittal. Michael Huff argued that the group, on what prosecutors said was a training mission in the Poconos, spent time having pillow fights and eating steak.
The lawyers acknowledged that their clients were angry at U.S. policy.
"Many of these discussions were expressions of young Muslims in a post-9/11 world," said Troy Archie, who represents Eljvir Duka. "Were they frustrated? Yes. Did they say some things? Yes. Did they have an agreement to kill U.S. soldiers? Absolutely not."
Deputy U.S. Attorney William Fitzpatrick said that prosecutors had shown plentiful evidence of the group's plans, including taped conversations.
