Inside the federal courthouse in New Bern Thursday morning, one of the three defendants unexpectedly stood up and began talking.
Hysen Sherifi's comments came before jurors were brought into the cavernous courtroom where it is sometimes hard to hear.
He essentially told the judge he was unhappy because his attorney was not presenting the defense he wanted.
The judge said she would address his concerns later. Then Dylan Boyd was brought back to the stand to continue his testimony.
Boyd's family home in Johnston County was raided in 2009. FBI agents said they found dozens of weapons and other materials related to a terrorist plot to attack targets in the US and abroad.
Dylan's father, Daniel, was said to be leading a terrorist cell. He, his two sons and four other men were arrested.
The Boyds all pled guilty and are testifying for the prosecution.
Prosecutors played undercover video in court showing a conversation between Sharifi and Dylan Boyd.
Boyd pulled out a handgun and talked about the type of ammunition he used.
He told jurors, "It's intended to be not a wounding round, but a very, very lethal round."
Later, he protested that the prosecutor was not letting him fully answer some questions. The judge eventually allowed him to elaborate for jurors.
As for Sherifi, the judge warned him after sending the jury out, that talking about defense strategy in open court could pose problems for him and his attorney.
She later closed the courtroom while Sherifi spoke with his attorney and then with her.
Things appeared to have been worked out, because the trial resumed with Dylan Boyd still on the stand.
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