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Pulse nightclub shooting: Gunman's wife free pending trial | Pulse nightclub shooting: Gunman's wife free pending trial |
(35 minutes later) | |
A judge's decision to grant bail for the wife of a man who killed 49 people at a nightclub in Orlando, Florida, pending her trial, has sparked outrage. | A judge's decision to grant bail for the wife of a man who killed 49 people at a nightclub in Orlando, Florida, pending her trial, has sparked outrage. |
Noor Salman, widow of Omar Mateen, is accused of obstruction of justice and aiding and abetting his material support to the so-called Islamic State. | Noor Salman, widow of Omar Mateen, is accused of obstruction of justice and aiding and abetting his material support to the so-called Islamic State. |
A California federal judge said Ms Salman is not a flight risk or a danger to public safety. | A California federal judge said Ms Salman is not a flight risk or a danger to public safety. |
But she agreed to hold the decision for two days as prosecutors appeal. | But she agreed to hold the decision for two days as prosecutors appeal. |
The June 2016 attack was the worst mass shooting in modern US history. | |
Orlando Police Chief John Mina said in a statement that he was "disappointed" by Wednesday's move to free 31-year-old Ms Salman. | |
A survivor of the shooting, Chris Hansen, expressed shock at the decision. | A survivor of the shooting, Chris Hansen, expressed shock at the decision. |
"You've got people who are behind bars for selling marijuana but she might be allowed free, how does that make any sense?" he told the Orlando Sentinel. | |
"This whole situation is heartbreaking. It's going to make it hard to sleep at night - again." | "This whole situation is heartbreaking. It's going to make it hard to sleep at night - again." |
Oakland-based Judge Donna Ryu ruled that Ms Salman could live with her uncle in northern California, but must wear an electronic ankle monitor. | Oakland-based Judge Donna Ryu ruled that Ms Salman could live with her uncle in northern California, but must wear an electronic ankle monitor. |
The judge added that there is no evidence the accused is directly linked to any terror groups, or that she personally holds extremist views. | The judge added that there is no evidence the accused is directly linked to any terror groups, or that she personally holds extremist views. |
Ms Salman's lawyer, Linda Moreno, said it was "extraordinarily rare" for bail to be given in terrorism cases. | Ms Salman's lawyer, Linda Moreno, said it was "extraordinarily rare" for bail to be given in terrorism cases. |
The accused's attorneys said the bail bond would be $500,000 (£407,000). | |
Ms Salman has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and claimed that she was victim of domestic abuse. | Ms Salman has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and claimed that she was victim of domestic abuse. |
During pre-trial proceedings, federal prosecutor Sarah Sweeney said the couple ran up $25,000 in credit card debt and spent about $5,000 in the days before the attacks. | |
Included in the purchases was an $8,000 diamond ring for Ms Salman. | |
The couple also made her the beneficiary of Mateen's bank account in the event of his death, prosecutors said. | |
Earlier this month, the same judge ordered that Ms Salman undergo a psychiatric evaluation. | Earlier this month, the same judge ordered that Ms Salman undergo a psychiatric evaluation. |
She was not arrested until 16 January 2017, at her parents' home near San Francisco. | |
A date for her trial has not yet been set. | A date for her trial has not yet been set. |
Who was the Orlando club gunman? | Who was the Orlando club gunman? |
Wife of gunman 'knew of attack' | Wife of gunman 'knew of attack' |
Prosecutors say Ms Salman "knowingly misled" FBI interrogators in the hours after the attack, in which her husband pledged support to multiple terrorist groups, including the self-styled Islamic State. | Prosecutors say Ms Salman "knowingly misled" FBI interrogators in the hours after the attack, in which her husband pledged support to multiple terrorist groups, including the self-styled Islamic State. |
They say she helped her husband in scouting the nightclub before the attack. | They say she helped her husband in scouting the nightclub before the attack. |
Her lawyers have argued she was a victim of a "tragic marriage" to Mateen, and that she had no prior knowledge of the attack. | |
Court documents filed by the defence state that Mateen suffered erratic mood swings due to steroid abuse and that he threatened to kill his wife if she left him. | Court documents filed by the defence state that Mateen suffered erratic mood swings due to steroid abuse and that he threatened to kill his wife if she left him. |
Mateen opened fire at the Pulse nightclub as it was about to close for the night. He was killed by police. | Mateen opened fire at the Pulse nightclub as it was about to close for the night. He was killed by police. |