Suspected Atlanta terrorist dismisses attorneys

By MEGAN MATTEUCCI

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

An Atlanta man will present opening arguments Tuesday morning for his own trial on terrorism charges.

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Walter Cumming Defendant Ehsanul Islam Sadequee (right) asks questions of potential jurors while his defense attorneys Don Samuel (left) and Khurrum Wahid (right) listen."

Enlarge photo

Walter Cumming Spectators listen as Judge Duffy warns against outbursts in his courtroom.

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Ehsanul Islam Sadequee, who is accused of helping overseas terrorists organize a “violent jihad,” decided Monday to represent himself in his Atlanta-based federal trial.

Sadequee, 23, and federal prosecutors spent Monday selecting jurors. Jury selection wrapped up around 4:30 p.m.

U.S. District Judge William Duffey said he will swear in the jury Tuesday morning and begin hearing opening arguments.

Sadequee is accused of making videos of potential targets in Washington, including the World Bank, the Capitol and the Masonic Temple in Alexandria, Va. He sent the videos to a terrorist based in London, according to a federal indictment.

Prosecutors said Sadequee also took a Greyhound bus in 2005 to Canada, where he met with several suspected terrorists and talked about attacking oil refineries.

Despite Sadequee’s dismissal, defense attorney Don Samuel sat alongside the 23-year-old throughout jury selection Monday and offered occasional advice. Samuel, who said he is stand-by counsel, told the judge that Sadequee did not understand what it meant to represent himself.

“I’ve told him I think he made a mistake,” Samuel told the judge.

The judge refused to hear the attorney’s arguments and said he told Sadequee numerous times what it meant to represent himself.

Sadequee has pleaded not guilty. If convicted, Sadequee could be sentenced to more than 20 years in prison, lawyers said.

Sadequee was born in Virginia and grew up in Roswell after his family immigrated from Bangladesh. He was arrested in 2006 in Bangladesh and spent three years in solitary confinement awaiting trial, his family said.

Staff Reporter Steve Visser contributed to this report.