Jurors in the Noor Salman trial will deliberate for a third day on charges she helped her husband with the attack on Pulse nightclub, one of the worst mass shootings in modern U.S. history.
- READ: LIVE updates of Noor Salman trial from our reporters at the courthouse ►
- RELATED:
- READ DOCUMENTS:
- Defense motion to dismiss or declare a mistrial because it says it wasn't told Pulse gunman's father was FBI informant (PDF)
- Defense motion for judgment of acquittal on counts 1 and 2 (PDF)
- Defense motion to reconsider motion to suppress statements by Salman (PDF)
- Defense motion to request experts to speak to Salman's mental state, previous testimony (PDF)
- Government's motion to exclude defense witnesses (PDF)
- Defendant's motions to preclude improper argument in government's opening statement (PDF)
- Defendant Noor Salman's motion to dismiss or declare a mistrial (PDF)
- Defense motion to dismiss or declare a mistrial because it says it wasn't told Pulse gunman's father was FBI informant (PDF)
After more than 12 hours of deliberations Thursday, jurors decided to head home and come back to the Orlando federal courthouse on Good Friday to continue mulling over a mass of evidence entered at trial.
Their main mission is to answer the question: Did Salman willingly help and support her husband carry out an attack that killed 49 people?
"It’s really both for jury," said attorney David Haas, who is not involved with the trial. "They have to deliberate on facts and then interpret those legal definitions they’ve been given to see if the facts match up to the crime or crimes. There’s five elements for count one, four elements for count two and it’s a really a matter of seeing which facts go to which element," Haas said.
"It’s a difficult, tedious process.”
Noor Salman defense team leaving federal court as jury ends day of deliberations. Jury to return 9AM Friday. Fritz Scheller asked thoughts on timing: “That’s the way the system works”. @MyNews13 pic.twitter.com/f9qdij4zOP
— Greg Angel (@NewsGuyGreg) March 29, 2018
The jurors came out at one point Thursday morning with a question about the elements of the charges that Salman is facing. Salman is charged with obstruction of justice and aiding and abetting and providing material support to a terrorist organization.
Jurors wanted to know specifically on the count of aiding and abetting, where it outlines willful actions. They also asked for guidance on how to define "encouragement" and "support."
Judge Paul Bryon replied it is up to the jury to look at all of the evidence and define for themselves what "encouragement" and "support" mean.
Here is Judge Paul Byron’s response to Noor Salman Trial jury question: What constitutes “willful support” and encouragement for Material Support of Terrorism? @MyNews13 pic.twitter.com/HaOsBEk5m4
— Greg Angel (@NewsGuyGreg) March 29, 2018
These charges focus on whether Salman knowingly helped and supported her husband, Omar Mateen, in the June 2016 massacre that left 49 dead and whether she intentionally lied to investigators about what she knew about plans for the attack.
A panel of 12 unidentified jurors are weighing the evidence presented by both sides in the case. The jury includes seven white women, four white men and a Hispanic man.
Legal expert David Haas spoke about the process involved in deliberations.
@MyNews13 Legal Expert David Haas explains how jurors tell the judge they’ve reached a verdict in Noor Salman trial. (NOTE: as of 2:45P Thursday there is NO verdict). @MyNews13 pic.twitter.com/Y1spsIyxvm
— Greg Angel (@NewsGuyGreg) March 29, 2018
Salman family spokeswoman Susan Clary described the defendant as a "housewife" and "mother" who had a sheltered life.
.@susanclary: "She was a housewife, a mother, didn't work outside the home. She depended on (Mateen) for everything. The bottom fell out after the 11th hour interrogation and her arrest." @MyNews13 pic.twitter.com/qLD9OoPv7f
— Julie Gargotta (@juliegargotta) March 29, 2018
During closing arguments Wednesday, prosecutors told the jury they think Mateen originally planned to attack Disney Springs and not the gay nightclub.
The prosecution maintains that Salman was in on that plan. However, the defense team said she didn't know what Mateen was going to do.
They also think the shakeup in the prosecution's argument helps their case.
"We have now known for a year and a half what their theory was, and it was all about the scouting of Pulse and casing of Pulse," defense attorney Linda Moreno said. "And then all of a sudden for the first time, in the closing argument, that is not their emphasis anymore. Now it's Disney."
Jurors must reach a unanimous verdict on both charges.
Salman family not outside courthouse
Each day, Salman’s family has been outside the federal courthouse in downtown Orlando to support her. But family members weren't out there Thursday morning.
“The family is very nervous, but they’re hopeful. They are in seclusion and resting," Clary said. "They didn’t want to have to come to the courthouse to sit and wait. It’s a very difficult thing to sit and wait anyway, but to wait at the courthouse is even more frustrating.”
Clary said Salman herself is afraid, but insists on her innocence.
“She wants the people of Orlando to hear the truth about her and about the fact that she did not know what he (Mateen) was doing. And that if she had known, she would’ve told somebody.”
Earlier Thursday, a provocative blogger got kicked out and cited for trespassing after filming on federal property.