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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
World
Victoria Bekiempis in New York

Kidnapped US journalist faces Taliban captor in court as 42-year sentence caps long saga

Taliban United States Katherine Polk Failla Kidnapping Rhode Afghanistan
a sketch of a man in a courtroom
Former Taliban commander Haji Najibullah in court. Najbullah was charged with kidnapping Rhode and two associates and holding them for seven months. Photograph: Jane Rosenberg/Reuters

Haji Najibullah appeared unbothered as he walked into Manhattan federal court earlier this week to learn whether he would face life behind bars for his role in brutal violence during his time as a Taliban commander – including the 2008 kidnapping of US journalist David Rohde.

Najibullah, who walked into the courtroom in shackles at about 9.50am Monday, sporting khaki jail garb and a black skullcap, could even be seen grinning at various points before proceedings started.

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