London - Six armed Iraqis who seized control of an airbus in mid-flight and forced its pilot to divert to London were convicted at the Old Bailey yesterday of hijack.
But the jury of six men and six women who spent nearly five hours deliberating sent a note to the judge saying they felt great compassion for the Iraqis - all opposed to President Saddam Hussein's regime. Mr Justice Wright - who will hear mitigation for the six and sentence them on Wednesday - ordered the note should be put on the court record.