The judge hearing the case against three men from Northern Ireland accused of gunrunning and conspiracy to murder has said he does not want it to be "a political trial".
Judge Wilkie Ferguson intervened as defence and prosecution lawyers argued over whether jurors should have to hear witnesses who would describe the importance of the Northern Ireland peace process and how the alleged crimes threatened to destroy the process.
Mr Conor Claxton, Mr Anthony Smyth and Mr Martin Mullan are accused of 59 counts of providing material support for acts of murder and maiming and conspiracy to commit such acts in Northern Ireland. Most of the charges concern alleged attempts to purchase and smuggle guns to Ireland through the mail service.
Mr Fred Haddad, who represents Mr Claxton, said the prosecution would be citing an FBI agent who questioned his client after his arrest. According to the agent, Mr Claxton explained the difference between the Provisional, "Real" and Continuity IRAs and suggested books the agent could read. "This politicises the case. I cannot have a jury who think the British are the most wonderful people in the world," Mr Haddad said. Judge Ferguson dismissed motions to have the more serious charges concerning murder and maiming dropped because they were too vague.
One of the defence counsel said the Provisional IRA was no longer on the list of the State Department as a designated terrorist organisation, so the prosecution's claim that the weapons were for use by the IRA should not be allowed.
The prosecutor, Mr Richard Scruggs, said the IRA was not specified in the indictment. However, in the bail hearing last August, he claimed Mr Claxton was working for the IRA. Most of yesterday was taken up with jury selection. The trial resumes today and may last up to six weeks.