The jurors will also have to decide whether the two defendants attempted to obstruct a Government investigation into the vacation and related matters.

The defendants have not attempted to deny the underlying facts.

There are several reasons why a defendant might attempt a political defense.

However if the defendant attempted an acquittal he would be risking his life if the jury found him guilty.

The affair represents one of the rare incidents in American history when a criminal defendant attempted to avoid justice by assassinating the trial judge.

"It is not a defense that the municipal defendants were attempting to comply or acting in good faith."

The main defendant attempted to shoot three rival gangsters.

In addition, he said, the defendants attempted to illegally export 300,000 fuse systems between May and September 1990.

The defendant committed or attempted to commit more than one murder at the same time.

The defendant attempted to board a moving train.