Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina man accused of seeking to join an al-Qaida-linked militant group will be back in court next month after he told a federal judge he wants to represent himself or wants another attorney.
Basit Sheikh appeared in court in Raleigh on Thursday, telling U.S. District Judge Terrence Boyle that Sheikh is willing to be deported immediately if prosecutors drop the charges against him.
Defense attorney Joseph Gilbert told Boyle that the 29-year-old Sheikh first said he wanted to represent himself. He says Sheikh's parents then said they wanted to hire another attorney for their son.
Boyle gave Sheikh 30 days to decide which he wants. Boyle says a defense attorney must be on stand-by if Sheikh does represent himself.
Sheikh also said he's been abused in prison.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
