[JURIST] Convicted terrorist and California resident Hamid Hayat [JURIST news archive] was denied a new trial Thursday, when a federal judge rejected his claims [opinion, PDF] that the jury foreman engaged in misconduct and made prejudicial statements. Judge Garland E. Burell Jr. [official profile] of the US Eastern District of California [official website] rejected testimony by one juror that the jury foreman continuously made "hangman" motions mocking the tying of a noose around his neck and made statements indicating that he was inclined to side with the government even if he did not believe Hayat was guilty.

Hayat was found guilty [JURIST report] on three counts of making false statements to the FBI and one count of providing material support to terrorists, and faces up to 39 years in prison. It was alleged that Hayat attended an al Qaeda training camp in Pakistan. In August of last year, two of Hayat's relatives were prevented from re-entering the United States [JURIST report] after a trip to Pakistan unless they submitted to questioning by the FBI. Hayat's father Umer Hayat pleaded guilty last year [JURIST report] to a charge of attempting to smuggle $28,000 into Pakistan and was sentenced to time served. AP has more.