ORLANDO, Fla. (Reuters) - The widow of the gunman who killed 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, in 2016 cased locations for the attack with her husband and did nothing to stop his deadly plans, prosecutors told jurors at her federal trial on Wednesday.
But a defense attorney for Noor Salman said she was a “simple woman who loved children” and was unaware that her husband, Omar Mateen, intended to carry out the Pulse nightclub massacre on June 12, 2016.
The two portraits of Salman, 31, emerged during opening statements for her trial in U.S. District Court in Orlando. She faces up to life in prison if she is convicted of aiding and abetting her husband and obstructing a federal investigation.
“The defendant’s cold actions gave Omar Mateen the green light to commit these crimes” on behalf of Islamic State, Assistant U.S. Attorney James Mandolfo told jurors. She is the only person charged in the attack, which ended with Mateen’s death in an exchange of gunfire with police.
Mandolfo said the government will provide evidence that Salman had foreknowledge of the attack, including statements she made to federal investigators just hours afterward.
She was at home with the couple’s then-3-year-old son during the shooting spree. Defense attorney Linda Moreno told jurors Salman was unaware of her husband’s sinister plans.
“Noor was in the dark about Omar’s secret and despicable life,” Moreno said.
Moreno said the FBI did not record its interrogation of Salman and coerced her into making statements that favored the prosecution.
The trial is expected to last for a month.
According to prosecutors, Salman initially told investigators her husband acted without her knowledge but later acknowledged being aware that he was watching Islamic State recruitment videos, had purchased an assault rifle and examined three possible attack locations.
Salman’s attorneys contend the U.S. government could not show any direct links between Mateen and Islamic State before the attack and has provided no evidence that Salman aided her husband.
Salman was indicted on two charges: obstruction of justice for alleged false statements to federal investigators, and aiding and abetting Mateen in his attempt to provide material support to a terrorist organization.
Mateen, 29, opened fire shortly after the last call for drinks on the club’s popular Latin night.
Holding hostages during his standoff with police, he claimed allegiance to a leader of the Islamic State militant group before being fatally shot.
Reporting by Joey Roulette in Orlando, Florida; Writing by Dan Whitcomb and Colleen Jenkins; Editing by David Gregorio