Viktor Bout's new lawyers US court does not have jurisdiction

NEW YORK, April 19 (Itar-Tass) - A new team of lawyers defending
Russian citizen Viktor Bout, whom the U.S. accuses of illicit trading in
weaponry, demands that their client be exonerated of all the charges,
since the U.S. court does not have the necessary jurisdiction.
A petition that lawyer Albert Dayan, who heads the defense team, sent
to Federal Judge Shira Scheindlin, says the case over his plaintiff should
be closed since Bout's right to a legitimate court hearing has been
violated.
Another reason cited by Dayan suggests that the U.S. government does
not have the extraterritorial jurisdiction, that is, it does not have the
power to consider criminal cases over the offences that have been
committed outside the U.S.
Viktor Bout was extradited to the U.S. by the Thai authorities at the
request of U.S. law enforcement agencies and he is currently kept in a
jail in New York. The trial over him is due to begin September 12, 2011.
He is facing four charges, including a conspiracy to kill U.S.
nationals, conspiracy to kill U.S. officers, conspiracy to acquire and use
an anti-aircraft missile, and conspiracy to provide aid and arms to
terrorists.
Bout denies all the four charges. If the court passes a guilty verdict
on him, the punishment he will face will vary from 25 years behind bars to
a life term.
March 3, Bout's lawyer Sabrina Schtroff who had been appointed by the
state to defend Bout relieved herself of duties.
The objective she mostly pursued in her activity what is known as a
bargain with investigators and recognition of Bout's guilt. Bout
vehemently objected to it.