A court in New York turned down convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout's appeal that argued the impartiality of at least one juror in his conviction last month was in doubt, a RIA reporter said.
Bout’s lawyers said Juror Heather Hobson, 42, had been influenced by a Hollywood film she had watched before the trial that showed biased information about Bout.
In a post-war interview with the New York Times, Hobson said she had seen the "terrible" film "Lord of War," which was released in 2005 and where the main character is believed to have been inspired by Bout. She added she had no idea it was about the defendant.
On Wednesday, Hobson told Judge Shira Scheindlin and Bout’s lawyer Albert Dayan that she had watched the film a few years back and did not even think the script had anything to do with Bout.
Lawyer Dayan said the jury’s verdict had been based on emotions rather than facts.
In response to the lawyers’ appeal, prosecutors said Bout could not be considered an “arms baron” because the character of the film is based on several people, has a different name and lives in a different location.
Bout, 44, was arrested in Thailand in 2008 and convicted in November 2011 for conspiracy to kill Americans, to acquire and use anti-aircraft missiles and to provide material support to terrorists in Columbia. The court will announce Bout’s sentence on February 8. He could face from 25 years to life in jail.
