Somalian piracy suspect to be tried as adult, judge rules

Abdiwali Abdiqadir Muse — one of the alleged perpetrators of a pirate attack on an American cargo ship off Somalia's coast — faces life in prison after being charged with piracy and other offences Tuesday in New York.

After a closed hearing to determine Muse's age, U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew J. Peck determined he could be tried as an adult after he finally admitted he was 18.

The ruling came after prosecutors and defence lawyers had argued back and forth about his age and Muse himself gave wildly varying ages.

Muse's lawyer said his client was 15 while his parents told The Associated Press he is 16.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan McGuire said Muse told a Somalian interpreter when he was first detained that he was 16, then 19 and then 26. A day later, Muse said he was 19. 

Then on Monday, Muse told an FBI agent he was 15 but later apologized for lying and said he was 18, going on 19.

Investigators also spoke to one of Muse's brothers, who said he was 18. Muse wept in the hearing when he heard authorities had contacted his family in Somalia.

Muse was taken into custody aboard a U.S. navy ship off the coast of Somalia on April 12, shortly before Navy SEAL snipers killed three other pirates holding Capt. Richard Phillips hostage on a lifeboat launched from his cargo vessel, the Maersk Alabama.

Muse arrived in New York on Monday night under heavy guard and handcuffed with a chain around his waist.

His left hand was heavily bandaged from a wound suffered during the skirmish on the Maersk.

In addition to piracy, Muse was charged with conspiracy to seize a ship by force; discharging a firearm; aiding and abetting the discharge of a firearm during a conspiracy to seize a ship by force; conspiracy to commit hostage taking; and brandishing a firearm.