Somalis Found Guilty in U.S. Piracy Trial

Federal jurors in the U.S. have convicted five Somali men of piracy. They were convicted on all counts in connection with the attack on USS Nicholas in the Indian Ocean on April 1--the first verdict of its kind in almost 200 years.

The men were charged with 14 counts, among them assault with a dangerous weapon and attacking to plunder a maritime vessel and piracy. Prosecutors said the men shot at the U.S. navy vessel after mistaking it for a merchant ship. The defendants' attorneys say they only were in distress and needed help. Prosecutors claim the men have already admitted to the crime, while defense attorneys say they were fisherman and simply forced to pounce on the ship.

Deliberations began Tuesday morning at the trial, which was being held in Norfolk, VA. The men showed no visible emotion as the guilty verdicts were read. All men now face life in prison, but their attorneys pledged they would appeal.