Walsall terror trial: Jury out to consider verdict
The jury in the case of a man and woman accused of Syria-related terrorism offences has retired to consider its verdict.
Ayman Shaukat, 27, of Pargeter Street, Walsall, is accused of helping two friends, Sajid Aslam, 34, and Alex Nash 22, to travel to Syria to join ISIS and commit acts of terrorism.
Aslam's wife Lorna Moore, 33, of Glebe Street, also of Walsall, is accused of failing to tell authorities that her husband planned to join the extremist group.
It is alleged she was planning to join her husband with their three children in Syria.
Shaukat, who worked at a financial services firm in Essington, and Moore, a former teacher at a prep school in Wolverhampton, both deny the charges at the Old Bailey in London.
Three men from Walsall – Aslam, 34, of Glebe Street, Jacob Petty, 26, of Slaney Street, and 24-year-old Isaiah Siadatan – successfully travelled to Syria from the town during 2014.
Aslam, who taught at schools in Dudley and Walsall, and Siadatan are both believed to be fighting for ISIS.
Petty, the son of a reverend with the Lichfield Diocese, was killed in 2015.
Former West Bromwich college student Nash, of Bentley Lane, has admitted that he intended to travel to Syria to join ISIS.
Siadatan's wife Kerry Thomason, 24, has admitted assisting her husband in preparation of acts of terrorism.
His Honour Judge Charles Wide QC concluded the evidence this afternoon and the jury of eight women and four men retired to consider the case after three weeks of evidence.
