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Federal judge rejects bid to delay NY trial of alleged bin Laden spokesman

FILE - This file image made available by Al-Jazeera shows Sulaiman Abu Ghaith, Osama bin Laden's son-in-law and spokesman. AP Photo/Al-Jazeera, File

NEW YORK – A man prosecutors say is Osama bin Laden’s son-in-law and former spokesman will go on trial next week despite claims by his lawyers that the government may have charged the wrong person.

Judge Lewis Kaplan denied a request on Friday to delay the trial of Sulaiman Abu Ghaith. Jury selection is set to begin Monday in federal court in Manhattan.

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Attorney Zoe Dolan had written Thursday that the defence recently learned there may be a second person with a similar name held at Guantanamo Bay.

Prosecutors told the judge on Friday that the second person went by different names, and that Abu Ghaith was the right man.

Abu Ghaith is charged with conspiring to kill Americans in his alleged role as al-Qaida’s spokesman.

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