Somali Pirate (Terrorist) Abduwali Abdukhadir Muse Smile Turn to Tears as he Faces Life in Prison on Piracy Charges

Somali Pirate, aka terrorist, Abduwali Abdukhadir Muse will be tried as an adult. Think the US is not going to make an example of this lad and a message to pirates for the future.

Smiles no more as the cold hard reality of life in prison set in and charges of piracy. Abduwali Abdukhadir Muse is about to learn the term, if you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime.

My what a difference a day makes to a Somali pirate, that and the fact that Abduwali Abdukhadir Muse now faces piracy charges that could get him life in prison. First all smiles as Abduwali Abdukhadir Muse was lead into court as if he was on the red carpet in Hollywood before the Oscars. However, as the piracy charges where brought against, the “swaggering buccaneer”, the smiles turned to tears as the reality of life in prison finally became a reality.

A Somali sea bandit wept as he was hit with piracy charges Tuesday that could put him in the brig forever.

Lawyers for Abduwali Abdukhadir Muse portrayed him as a wide-eyed victim of the crew that hijacked the Maersk Alabama, but the feds described him as a swaggering buccaneer.

He was among the first to storm the U.S. ship on April 8, fired at Capt. Richard Phillips and stole $30,000 from a safe, according to a criminal complaint filed in Manhattan.

It is actually rather pathetic that the AP is trying to portray Abduwali Abdukhadir Muse as a victim. A small 5-foot-2 victim who looked bewildered and so scrawny that his prison clothes were several sizes too big.

When his court-appointed lawyer said Muse’s father would be interviewed in Somalia to verify his birthdate, Muse put his head in his hand and broke down in tears. When the judge asked him if he understood that court-appointed lawyers would represent him, the teenager responded through a translator: “I understand. I don’t have any money.” When he was asked to raise his right hand, he pointed it into the air as if he was being called on in class.

The decision by the federal government to bring Muse to justice here has thrust the skinny teenager into the international spotlight, and raised legal questions about whether the U.S. is going too far in trying to make an example of someone so young.

Muse was charged with piracy, conspiracy and brandishing and firing a gun during a conspiracy. The most serious count carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison.

UPDATES from USA Today regarding rulings:

• Update at 4:56 p.m. ET: Federal Judge Andrew Peck has ruled that Muse is an adult and can be tried in open court.
• Update at 5:44 p.m. ET: Muse has been charged with piracy. If convicted, he’ll face life in prison.