People-smuggler trial begins in Brisbane

The trial has begun in Brisbane of an Iraqi man accused of attempting to smuggle hundreds of illegal immigrants into Australia, 353 of whom died when one vessel sank. Khaleed Shnayf Daoed, 36, is charged under the Migration Act with two counts of people-smuggling.

One charge relates to the ill-fated Siev-X, which sank in October 2001, and another to a boat that brought 147 illegal immigrants to Australia in August 2001. Daoed was extradited from Sweden by Australian federal police in May 2003.