FILE - This Nov. 16, 2010, file photo, provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), shows Russian arms trafficking suspect Viktor Bout, center, led by DEA officers off a flight From Bangkok to New York after his extradition to face terrorism charges despite a final outraged push by Russian diplomats. For nearly 20 years Bout, a former Soviet military officer who speaks four languages, ruled an empire of the air through a private fleet of long-haul cargo planes. He faces trial this week in a New York federal court for what Western governments say was his specialty, transporting tons of weapons that inflamed violence across the world's war zones.
(AP Photo/Drug Enforcement Administration, File)
NY trial starts for Soviet officer in weapons case
FILE - This Nov. 16, 2010, file photo, provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), shows Russian arms trafficking suspect Viktor Bout, center, led by DEA officers off a flight From Bangkok to New York after his extradition to face terrorism charges despite a final outraged push by Russian diplomats. For nearly 20 years Bout, a former Soviet military officer who speaks four languages, ruled an empire of the air through a private fleet of long-haul cargo planes. He faces trial this week in a New York federal court for what Western governments say was his specialty, transporting tons of weapons that inflamed violence across the world's war zones.
(AP Photo/Drug Enforcement Administration, File)
NEW YORK—Opening statements were set to begin Wednesday in the trial of a former Soviet military officer accused of agreeing to sell weapons to anti-American rebels, but only after jurors promised in writing not to research the case on the Internet.
Viktor Bout, dubbed the Merchant of Death, was arrested in March 2008 in a Bangkok hotel, where authorities say he agreed to sell the weapons to U.S. operatives posing as anti-American rebels. He was brought to the United States late last year after losing a fight against extradition. The Russian government opposed his transfer.
Twelve jurors and three alternates were chosen Tuesday during a daylong process. U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin required all of them to sign a first-of-its-kind juror pledge, in which they promised not to research any of the issues or parties involved in the trial on the Internet. The pledge contained a signature line after the words: "Signed under penalty of perjury."
Before the jurors' selection, the judge questioned them to make sure they could remain objective despite mentions of weapons including high-powered rifles, missile launchers and Stinger missiles.
She also wanted jurors who would not be disturbed by allegations that Bout may have indulged in Africa many years ago in arms trafficking that did not break U.S. laws. No one said he or she was bothered by that.
Three prospective jurors expressed doubts after hearing there would be mentions at the trial about Fuerzas Armadas Revolucianarias de Colombia, or FARC, a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization operating in Colombia.
The Drug Enforcement Administration-led sting counted on Bout thinking the FARC was looking forward to shipments of weapons that could be used against Americans.
The 44-year-old Bout has pleaded not guilty to charges that carry a potential life sentence. Blamed for fueling deadly Third World conflicts over the last decade, he has maintained through his lawyers that he is a legitimate businessman.
© Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Waiting for Twitter to feed in the latest...