Lacking a Tie to Jihadist Camp, Prosecution Rests

by Richard Gonzales, NPR

Prosecutors in the federal trial of Hamid Hayat, accused of having ties to al-Qaida in Pakistan in 2003, rest their case without offering direct evidence that Hayat attended a Jihadist training camp. Hayat, 23, is on trial in Sacramento. His father is charged with lying to federal officials about his son's activities.

Federal authorities first announced the arrest of an ice cream truck driver, Umer Hayat, and his son back in June. Officials claimed that they had uncovered a potential al-Qaida sleeper cell in the quiet farm town of Lodi, in the middle of California's central valley.

The prosecution rested its case after eight weeks of testimony. Hayat's defense is now under way.

Broadcast Dates

• All Things Considered, April 5, 2006