NEW YORK: As a 12-member jury in the trial of Pakistani neuroscientist Dr Aafia Siddiqui resumed deliberations on Tuesday morning, the lead defence lawyer called for taking into account facts of the case rather than fears created about her.

Attorney Charles Swift said in a press statement: “There is no physical evidence that Aafia Siddiqui picked up the gun and fired. At the time of incident she was 100 lbs, fighting soldiers weighing 180 lbs, the way prosecutors portrayed her as if she was a Special Forces soldier. She could not have fired M4 at them.”

On Monday evening the jury sought transcripts of the statements made in the court by Dr Aafia, Captain Snider, the prosecution witness, chief warrant officer at the Bagram base and Afghan police officer posted in Ghazni at the time of Dr Aafia’s arrest.

After giving instructions to the jury on all legal aspects and objectives of deliberations, Judge Richard Berman asked them to render their verdict in the case whether they find Dr Aafia guilty or not guilty.

A lawyer told journalists that the deliberations “could end in hours or take a number of days, we have to be alert”.

Ms Aafia is accused of trying to kill US soldiers while in custody in Afghanistan.