Dix defendant wants letter cited in appeal

An attorney for one of the men convicted of plotting an armed attack on Fort Dix argued yesterday that a codefendant's letter to the judge could show his client deserved to be acquitted.

Lead defendant Mohamad Shnewer wrote to U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler last month, saying he told "lies" about his codefendants when talking to a confidential FBI informant, Mahmoud Omar. Shnewer did not testify at trial.

In conversations captured on a body wire, Shnewer and Omar discussed ways to attack Fort Dix and other military installations. Shnewer told Omar his four codefendants were ready to carry out an attack. In his letter, Shnewer said that he was lying about his friends, and that Omar was "well-aware" that the others didn't know about their discussions.

Richard Sparaco, attorney for defendant Serdar Tatar, said Shnewer's letter should be considered new evidence when the judge weighs defense motions for acquittal or a new trial. All five defendants were convicted in December of conspiracy to kill U.S. soldiers, which carries a potential life sentence. Tatar's codefendants previously have filed motions similar to his. - Troy Graham