Beheading plot suspect to be in court

WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) - A Raleigh school administrator accused of paying a hit man to behead three witnesses in a North Carolina terrorism case is due in federal court.

Nevine Aly Elshiekh is scheduled to appear Friday. She was arrested last month after FBI agents tracked her to a meeting in Wilmington with a government informant posing as a hit man's representative. Agents say the 46-year-old educator provided the informant with the names of those to be killed and a $750 down payment toward the first hit.

Prosecutors say the plot was masterminded by Hysen Sherifi, who was sentenced to 45 years in prison for a conspiracy to attack the Marine base at Quantico, Va.

Also arrested in the beheading plot is Shkumbin Sherifi, the 21-year-old brother of the terror defendant.