A Somali man who admitted being one of the commanders of an attack on a yacht that led to the killings of four Americans was sentenced in U.S. District Court to life in prison.
Mohamud Hirs Issa Ali is one of four admitted Somali pirates to be sentenced in federal court this week. All are expected to receive life in prison.
A group of 19 pirates hijacked the 58-foot American yacht Quest Feb. 18 in the Arabian Sea, about 840 miles from Somalia.
The hijacking turned deadly two days later when the U.S. Navy approached and tried to negotiate the release of the hostages. The Somalis refused and several of them shot and killed the Americans.
