First defense witness testifies (September 4, 2007)
There were no mid-day snoozes on Tuesday, September 4, 2007 as jurors got a crash course on the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories and its heartrending impact on the Palestinian people. The jury frequently nodded and leaned forward to listen to the testimony of the first defense witness — former United States diplomat Edward Abington — who seemed to many as a walking history book on the Palestinian-Israeli saga.
Government rests its case (August 30, 2007)
It wasn’t a dramatic moment on the afternoon of Thursday, August 30, 2007. Some jurors nodded their heads while others gave small sighs as U.S. government attorney Jim Jacks quickly pushed his maroon leather chair back, stood up and said, Your honor, ladies and gentleman of the jury, the government will now rest its case. Six weeks into the Holy Land Foundation trial, the government was done presenting their evidence. They called nine of the 59 witnesses listed on their original witness list — two anonymous Israeli agents, two FBI agents and five smaller witnesses. The defense team will begin calling their witnesses on Tuesday, September 4. Defense attorneys anticipate that both sides will present their closing arguments and 12 of the 15 jurors will deliberate by mid-September.
FBI agent testifies a 3rd day (August 29, 2007)
Greg Westfall, defendant Abdulrahman Odeh’s attorney, stood tall in a dark suit and black cowboy boots on Wednesday, August 29, 2007 as he continued cross-examining FBI agent Lara Burns. Many in the courtroom — including the 15-member jury and U.S. District Judge A. Joe Fish — seemed relieved when prosecutors announced that the government could rest its case as early as Thursday, August, 30.
Last witness continues testimony (August 28, 2007)
One juror had a runny nose while another constantly doze off. As the sixth week of the Holy Land Foundation trial continued on Tuesday, August 28, 2007, the jury seemed weary. But they also seemed hopeful because they were told that the government could rest their case before the end of August.
Last government witness testifies (August 27, 2007)
With her light gray suit and her pasty face, FBI agent Lara Burns was called to testify a second time on Monday, August 27, 2007 as the U.S. government’s final witness. The jurors stretched, yawned and stared at the clock as Burns continued to repeat her previous testimony and talk about issues of which she is not an expert. And as defense attorneys stood up to object on Burns’ reiteration and non-expertise, U.S. District Judge A. Joe Fish overruled one objection after another.
