To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.

WILMINGTON — A Raleigh woman charged in a murder for hire plot is due in federal court in Wilmington Friday.

Nevine Elshiekh, 46, is accused of trying to hire a hitman to behead three witnesses in a North Carolina terrorism case. According to the FBI, Elshiekh provided an informant with the names of those to be killed and a $750 down payment toward the first hit.

Authorities said the plot was masterminded by Hysen Sherifi.

Sherifi was found guilty in 2011 of being a member of a terrorist cell and conspiring to provide material support to terrorism and conspiring to carry out attacks overseas.

Elshiekh told the FBI during the trial she started writing letters to all of the defendants and began a relationship with Sherifi. The FBI said they learned from a jail informant that Hysen Sherifi was planning a murder-for-hire plot to kill three witnesses who testified in his trial.

An FBI agent was called to the stand who revealed that the Bureau has letters, and recordings or phone calls and jail visits between Elshiekh and Sherifi. In the communications, money and the witnesses were discussed. According to the FBI, there is a video recording of Elshiekh meeting with an informant posing as a messenger for a hitman.

When the defense questioned the FBI agent, it became clear that Elshiekh was not entirely clear on what was occurring and only acted upon instructions from Sherifi.

The purpose of Friday's hearing was to determine if there was probable cause on keeping Elshiekh in custody.