Va. jury begins 2nd day of piracy deliberations

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — Jurors in Virginia have started their second day of deliberations in the trial of five Somali men accused of launching a pirate attack on a U.S. Navy ship off the coast of Africa.

Deliberations resumed this morning.

Jurors met for about 7 1/2 hours Tuesday. Late in the day, they asked a question about the 14 charges the men face and then told the judge they would not be able to reach a verdict.

Prosecutors say the men fired on the crew of the USS Nicholas on April 1 after they thought it was a merchant ship. Defense attorneys say the five were fishermen who attacked the ship after they were beaten and threatened by pirates.

The piracy trial is believed to be the first in the U.S. since the Civil War.