One juror had a runny nose while another constantly doze off. As the sixth week of the Holy Land Foundation trial continued on Tuesday, August 28, 2007, the jury seemed weary. But they also seemed hopeful because they were told that the government could rest their case before the end of August.
With her light gray suit and her pasty face, FBI agent Lara Burns was called to testify a second time on Monday, August 27, 2007 as the U.S. government’s final witness. The jurors stretched, yawned and stared at the clock as Burns continued to repeat her previous testimony and talk about issues of which she is not an expert. And as defense attorneys stood up to object on Burns’ reiteration and non-expertise, U.S. District Judge A. Joe Fish overruled one objection after another.
The 15-member jury’s eyes twinkled Thursday, August 23, 2007 when U.S. District Judge A. Joe Fish told them the day was over by 10 a.m. But their eyes suddenly gloomed and their eyebrows scrunched as Fish said they were required to stay until noon since the court staff had already ordered them lunch. After FBI agent Robert Miranda concluded his testimony by about 10 a.m., prosecutors said they will call their last witness on Monday after which they will rest their case.
Both frowns and smiles were present in the courtroom on Wednesday, August 22, 2007 as prosecutors and defense attorneys questioned FBI agent Robert Miranda. While listening to Miranda testify for a third day, the jurors were mostly attentive as the fifth week of the Holy Land Foundation trial wrapped up.
Some jurors had their palms under their chins while others squinted intensely as they leaned forward to see a large poster displaying a list of Holy Land Foundation speakers that the government said were affiliated with Hamas. During much of the morning of Tuesday, August 21, 2007, the jury looked at prosecutor Nathan Garrett post round neon stickers next to many of the speakers’ names as he attempted to link them to Hamas. Garrett — a Brad Pitt look-alike — had the wit and speed of the actor. But unlike the star, Garrett spoke with an impassionate, robot-like voice.
His face was cherry red. He was outraged at this mockery of a trial. Defendant Ghassan Elashi’s voice was loud and clear. As U.S. District Judge A. Joe Fish and jurors exited the courtroom after a mid-morning break Monday, August 20, 2007, Elashi let out his frustration toward the unjust judge. This is an extension of the Zionist occupation. We can’t win the case with this judge because he is a bigot, Elashi said. The judge later replied, We can’t have outbursts like that. I’m warning you that a further outburst wont be tolerated.
The mostly-attentive jury continued to listen to a witness with no name on Thursday, August 16, 2007. The Israeli official — who went by the pseudonym of “Avi” — repeatedly smiled as he attempted to make one point clear: “Khamas,” or Hamas, indoctrinated Palestinian children through zakat (charity) committees. For the Israeli agent’s protection, the courthouse was surrounded by several police cars, the courtroom doors were locked and a few bodyguards were present. The media and the rest of the public listened to the testimony in an overflow room on another floor.
Some jurors glimpsed down at their nails, while others took frequent peeks at the clock. The jury seemed unimpressed by yet another anonymous witness with the Israeli government on Wednesday, August 15, 2007. As prosecutor Elisabeth Shapiro began the direct examination of an advisor with the Israeli Security Agency (ISA) who used the pseudonym of “Avi,” the pair attempted to prove that the Holy Land Foundation (HLF) was part of a wacked-out conspiracy to fund Hamas.
With her pink blouse, dark pin-stripped suit and crow-colored hair, FBI agent Lara Burns seemed hostile as she neared the end of her 11-day testimony on Tuesday, August 14, 2007. Mounted on a pole behind her was the American flag. The stars and stripes. The symbol of freedom and protection. Yet to many, the Dallas courtroom lacked these values. And many said Burns’ bias was evident. U.S. District Judge A. Joe Fish refused to admit into evidence several documents seized by the Israeli Defense Force.
