More discord at N.Y. trial of woman linked to al-Qaida

NEW YORK — A U.S.-trained Pakistani scientist linked to al-Qaida got into trouble again Monday in federal court after twice interrupting the sometimes tearful testimony of an American soldier who claimed he shot her in self defense in Afghanistan in 2008.

"I feel sorry for you," Aafit Saddiqui blurted out at one point at her attempted murder trial in Manhattan. After a judge had deputy U.S. marshals remove her, she pointed at the witness and muttered something else before disappearing behind a side door.

U.S. District Judge Richard Berman allowed Saddiqui to return later, but kicked her out again amid another rambling tirade about injustice.

Siddiqui — a specialist in neuroscience who trained at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Brandeis University — has insisted in previous courtroom rants that she's innocent. She also has refused to work with her defense attorneys, including some paid for by the Pakistani government.

Authorities allege that Siddiqui, 37, is an al-Qaida supporter who was detained at an Afghan police station on July 18, 2008, where she grabbed a military assault rifle and opened fire at American personnel, but missed. The soldier shot her with his pistol during the struggle.