By BJ Austin, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-929901.mp3
Dallas, TX – The 20 year old Jordanian man who tried to blow up a downtown Dallas skyscraper will be sentenced Tuesday. KERA's BJ Austin says Hosam Smadi could address the court, speaking publically about the incident for the first time.
Hosam Smadi was arrested by the FBI as he attempted to detonate what he thought was a car bomb in the underground garage of the 60 story Fountain Place office tower. The bomb was a dud, provided by undercover FBI officers. They began investigating Smadi after his jihadist postings online. A psychiatrist for the defense testified yesterday that Smadi is schizophrenic. A psychiatrist for the government told the court Smadi is too functional to be schizophrenic and fakes psychotic symptoms in order to get drugs.
Smadi's father came from Jordan to testify. He told the court about Hosam's troubled life: domestic violence, and sexual abuse by a family acquaintance. He says Hosam was not political or religious when he lived in Jordan.
Judge Barbara Lynn will decide if there are mitigating factors to be figured into sentencing. Smadi could get 30 years.