Pirates? Not Under this Legal Definition
A United States District Court dismissed piracy charges against a group of Somalians who were accused of attacking a Navy ship, holding that their actions did not amount to piracy. There are still seven other charges pending against the group.
Piracy carries a mandatory life sentence. The charge, however, also requires that the attackers take charge of the vessel and rob it. In this case, part of the defense was that neither action occurred. The group's attorney noted "The bottom line is there's no piracy because there was no robbery at sea . . . ."
http://legal.advicescene.com/us-news/2010/08/19/pirates-not-under-this-legal-definition.php
Piracy carries a mandatory life sentence. The charge, however, also requires that the attackers take charge of the vessel and rob it. In this case, part of the defense was that neither action occurred. The group's attorney noted "The bottom line is there's no piracy because there was no robbery at sea . . . ."
http://legal.advicescene.com/us-news/2010/08/19/pirates-not-under-this-legal-definition.php