Times Square Bomb Suspect's First Day in Court
Accused terrorist Faisal Shahzad appeared in Manhattan Federal Court Tuesday for his "Presentment on a Criminal Complaint," his first appearance since his arrest on May 3 for the attempted Times Square bombing.
In front of a courtroom packed with FBI agents, reporters and spectators, Federal Judge James Francis informed Shahzad of the charges against him in a criminal complaint.
Shahzad, sporting a black beard, was wearing a grey sweatshirt and grey sweatpants. As he sat silently at the defense table with a federal defender seated to his left, the judge read the five counts against him. Shahzad showed no emotion, and the proceeding lasted 15 minutes. Francis set June 1 for a preliminary hearing.
At that hearing, the government must establish probable cause that a crime was committed or the government must obtain an indictment by a grand jury. The prosecutor, Randall Jackson, asked the court to continue to detain Shahzad in prison and the public defender, Julia Gatto, had no objection.
Gatto did ask the court if the judge would order Halal meals (blessed Muslim meals) for Shazad in prison. No plea was entered, and Shazad was led out of the courtroom in handcuffs, surrounded by U.S. marshals.
