Widow of nightclub gunman acquitted

A federal jury acquitted the widow of the gunman in the Pulse nightclub massacre Friday of charges that she helped her husband plan the attack in Orlando, Florida, that killed 49 people.

The 12-person jury returned the verdict in the case of Noor Salman, 31, after two days of deliberations.

Salman cried after the verdict was read, looking back at her family as she left the courtroom. Her cousin and two uncles sobbed and hugged each other as the verdict was read, The Associated Press reported.

On the other side of the courtroom, the families of the victims of the Pulse shooting sat stone-faced and silent.

Salman was charged with providing material support to the Islamic State and with obstructing justice. She could have faced life in prison if convicted.

Outside the courthouse, Salman’s family said they were eager for her to be able to see her young son again. She has been in jail for two years awaiting trial.

Her uncle, Al Salman, said, “Happy Friday. It’s Good Friday.”

“Now, we’re looking forward to taking my niece and hiring a therapist for her,” he said. “I don’t know how she’s going to make up for the last two years. ... I said, day one, that she’s innocent and I would stand here in front of you when the jury comes with the verdict to tell you, ‘I told you so.’ ”

“Now,” he said, “I came here to tell you: ‘I told you so.’ ”

Prosecutor Sara Sweeney spoke only briefly to reporters, saying, “While we’re disappointed in the jury’s verdict, we respect their verdict and we appreciate all of their hard work and thank them for their service in this case.”

Defense attorneys had described Salman as a simple woman with a low IQ who was abused by her husband, and who didn’t know of his plans because he concealed much of his life from her.

Jurors asked Judge Paul Byron on Thursday for some definitions and descriptions related to the charges, some of which he provided.