Testimony coming from Pakistan in terrorism trial

Defense witnesses testify from Pakistan in terror support trial of Florida imam

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Published On: Feb 11 2013 10:26:49 AM EST   Updated On: Feb 11 2013 11:49:49 AM EST
MIAMI -

Defense witnesses are set to testify from Pakistan in the South Florida trial of a Muslim cleric charged with financially supporting the Pakistani Taliban.

The first of up to 11 witnesses will testify Monday from an Islamabad hotel. The testimony will be beamed to a Miami federal courtroom via video hookup. Defense lawyers will ask questions in Pakistan with prosecutors doing cross-examination using the video feed.

The unusual arrangement was made necessary when several witnesses for 77-year-old Hafiz Khan could not travel to the U.S. Others face U.S. charges and refused to come.

Khan is charged with funneling at least $50,000 to the Pakistani Taliban. Defense witnesses will testify the money was not for terrorists but for the needy and victims of violence in Pakistan's Swat Valley region.