NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — A federal grand jury has indicted three suspected Somali pirates on murder charges in the deaths of four Americans aboard a yacht off the coast of Africa.
Ahmed Muse Salad, Abukar Osman Beyle and Shani Nurani Shiekh Abrar could face the death penalty if they’re convicted.
They are among 14 men who were already charged with piracy, kidnapping and weapons charges for their involvement in the hijacking of the yacht Quest. The new charges were handed down Friday.
The owners of the Quest, Jean and Scott Adam of Marina del Rey, Calif., along with friends Bob Riggle and Phyllis Macay of Seattle, were shot to death several days after being taken hostage several hundred miles south of Oman.
Eleven others have already pleaded guilty to piracy for their roles.
