Fla. Taliban jurors still deciding imam's fate

Jurors in Florida Taliban support case still deciding fate of Muslim cleric

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Published On: Mar 01 2013 08:37:50 AM EST   Updated On: Mar 01 2013 10:56:38 AM EST
MIAMI -

Jurors want to leave early on their fourth day of deliberations in the South Florida trial of a Muslim cleric accused of supporting the Pakistani Taliban.

The panel said in a note Friday they want to quit no later than 3 p.m. because of a personal family matter. U.S. District Judge Robert Scola approved the request, as long as the group continues to deliberate diligently in the case of 77-year-old Hafiz Khan.

The deliberations followed a two-month trial on U.S. charges that Khan provided about $50,000 to the Pakistani Taliban. Khan testified the money was for needy people, family members and a religious school or madrassa he owns in Pakistan's Swat Valley.

If convicted Khan faces maximum sentences of 15 years on each of four terror support-related charges.

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