Defendant Cites Prosecutor’s Facebook Comments in Bid for New Trial

A Somali man convicted of attempted murder in a Minneapolis shooting is citing a prosecutor’s Facebook comments in a bid for a new trial.

The new trial motion filed on behalf of convicted defendant Ahmed Ali targets alleged anti-Somali comments by assistant Hennepin County attorney Gretchen Gray-Larson, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports.

According to the motion, "The posts concerned derogatory statements about people from Somalia, and that she felt comfortable with her case because of a juror who attended St. John's University.”

Deputy County Attorney Pat Diamond told the Star-Tribune he is confident the motion will be denied.