'Merchant of Death' juror not biased by Nicolas Cage film, judge says

A US federal judge today rejected a request to overturn the conviction of arms dealer Viktor Bout.

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A US federal judge today rejected a request to overturn the conviction of arms dealer Viktor Bout after determining that a juror was not unduly prejudiced by viewing a film based on the Russian businessman's life.

A jury last month found Bout, known as the Merchant of Death, guilty of conspiring to kill Americans by illegally selling weapons to terror groups.

A defence attorney argued in court today that Bout should have his conviction thrown out and be granted a new trial because a juror had seen the film Lord of War, an action-drama movie in which Nicolas Cage played an arms-dealing outlaw whose fictional adventures were inspired by Bout's life.

Heather Hobson, the jury's forewoman, told The New York Times in a post-verdict interview on November 2 that she had seen the movie but did not know it was about Bout. She described the film as "that terrible Nicolas Cage movie."

At a brief hearing today, US District Judge Shira Scheindlin interviewed Hobson about the film.

According to AFP, Hobson reiterated today that she had seen the film before the trial began but did not realise Cage's character was inspired by Bout until after the guilty verdict was read.

Hobson also said she did not believe the film was discussed during jury deliberations.

Scheindlin was satisfied with Hobson's answers and rejected Bout's request to overturn his guilty verdict.

Bout went on trial on October 11 on charges of attempting to sell a huge arsenal, including hundreds of surface-to-air missiles, to US agents in Thailand posing as members of Colombia's FARC leftist guerrilla organisation.

The weapons were supposedly being sought to enable FARC to shoot down American military helicopters helping Colombian forces.

Bout was arrested in Thailand in 2008 and extradited to the US last year.

Russian authorities have questioned the fairness of the trial. Bout was living openly in Russia before going to Thailand despite numerous illegal arms-dealing allegations against him.

The 44-year-old maintains his innocence and claims he only transported arms as part of a legitimate cargo business.

Bout faces up to life in prison when he is sentenced on February 8.