Opening statements take place on Monday in the US federal trial of an ex-British jihadist accused of hostage-taking and conspiracy to commit murder.
El Shafee Elsheikh, 33, is the last of a group of Islamic State militants – known as the Beatles for their British accents – to face justice.
The group is said to have tortured and beheaded hostages in Syria, including several journalists and aid workers.
The trial, in Virginia, is expected to last three to four weeks.
