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Judge To Consider 3 Motions From Megahed's Attorneys

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By ELAINE SILVESTRINI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 5, 2008

TAMPA - TAMPA - TAMPA - A federal judge is convening a hearing this morning to consider several defense motions in the case of two former University of South Florida students who are charged with illegally transporting explosives.

U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday will hear arguments in three motions filed by attorneys for Youssef Megahed: that he reconsider his order denying Megahed's release on bail, that he reconsider his order denying a separate trial for Megahed, and a motion that he require prospective jurors to complete detailed questionnaires.

The bail motion hinges on an FBI report that the defense maintains shows that devices in the trunk of the men's car when they were stopped in South Carolina on Aug. 4 were fireworks and not explosives. The prosecution maintains that the defense is misrepresenting that report.

The severance motion seeks a trial separate from that of Ahmed Mohamed, who also is charged with trying to help terrorists by making and posting on the Internet a video demonstrating how to use a remote-controlled toy to detonate a bomb. Megahed's attorneys argue their client will be unfairly prejudiced by the terrorism accusations against Mohamed.

The defense wants to use questionnaires to help weed out jurors who are prejudiced.

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