Somali pirates accused of killing four Americans could face death penalty in U.S.

Jean and Scott Adams, pictured at the Del Ray Yacht Club in Los Angeles. They were shot onboard their yacht, the Quest, in the waters off Oman after it was hijacked by pirates

The Somali pirates arrested after the killing of four Americans on board their luxury yacht could face the death penalty if they stand trial in the U.S.
The 15 men are accused of killing Jean and Scott Adam, from California, and Phyllis Macay and Robert Riggle, from Seattle, when gunfire erupted aboard the Quest.
The pirates are currently being held on the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, which is in the waters off East Africa.

Phyllis Macay and Bob Riggle, both from Seattle, were aboard the Quest with the Adams when it was hijacked. They were also killed

The four Americans onboard the Quest were killed early yesterday morning, in what was one of the most violent episodes since the start of the modern-day piracy epidemic several years ago.
Navy officials onboard the USS Sterett had been in negotiations with the pirates following the hijacking last Friday.
But there were clear signs of dissent among the bandits.
On Monday, two of the pirates abandoned the yacht and boarded the Sterett, which was stationed 600 yards away.
Then, on Tuesday, without warning - and while negotiations were still taking place - the bandits on the Quest fired a rocket-propelled grenade at the warship.
Then gunfire broke out aboard the yacht.