US seeks retrial of Pakistani-American suspect

SAN FRANCISCO, May 5 (Reuters) Federal prosecutors today said on Friday they will seek a new terrorism-related trial against a Pakistani-American ice cream vendor in California following a mistrial last week.

Umer Hayat, 48, of Lodi, California, was released on bail on Monday after nearly a year in custody. On April 25 a federal jury failed to reach a verdict over whether he lied to authorities about his son attending a terrorist training camp in Pakistan and about his knowledge of such camps.

On the same day a separate jury before the same judge in Sacramento found Hayat's son, Hamid, guilty of providing material support to terrorists by attending a training camp and of lying to the FBI.

''Seven citizens serving as jurors in the Umer Hayat trial found beyond a reasonable doubt that he had lied to the FBI about his son's attendance at a terrorist training camp,'' US Attorney McGregor Scott said in a statement.

''As the law permits after a mistrial, we believe it warranted bringing this case before a new jury to have Umer Hayat held accountable,'' Scott said.

The statement said the jury was divided seven to five on his first count and six to six on a second related count.

While out on 390,000 dollars bail, the elder Hayat is required to wear an electronic bracelet monitoring his movements and must remain at home except under special circumstances.

If convicted in a new trial, he faces up to 16 years in prison. His son faces up to a 39-year prison term when he is sentenced on July 14.

Reuters VJ VP0130