3 Somalis Plead Not Guilty to Killing 4 Americans in Piracy Attack

Three of the suspected Somali pirates being charged with the deaths of four American yachters in February have pleaded not guilty in a U.S. federal court in Norfolk, VA. 

The men, Ahmed Muse Salad, Abukar Osman Beyle and Shani Nurani Shiekh Abrar, have been charged with murder, piracy, kidnapping, and weapons violations.  These three are among 14 defendants; all the others entered guilty pleas and agreed to cooperate with authorities.

The Somalis who have plead not guilty face the death penalty if convicted of the charges.

Two of the Somali's victims, Scott and Jean Adams.  Photo taken from their travel blog.

The victims of the Quest yacht were shot to death proceeding being taken hostage while sailing in the notoriously dangerous waters off of Oman on February 22, and were the first U.S. citizens to lose their lives in a flurry of piracy attacks in the Indian Ocean.