New York City policeman accused of cannibalism plot on trial

NEW YORK (AP) - The New York City policeman accused of planning to abduct women, cook and eat them was set to go on trial Monday, with U.S. prosecutors planning to show that he used a restricted law enforcement database and did surveillance on potential victims.

The baby-faced tabloid sensation is expected to take the stand as his defence tries to argue that it was all fantasy, that his online chats were so offensive and over-the-top that they couldn't be taken seriously.

"I'm planning on getting me some girl meat," 28-year-old Gilberto Valle allegedly wrote in one chat room. "It's this November, for Thanksgiving. ... She's not a volunteer. She has to be abducted."

A criminal complaint claims that Valle created a computer file cataloguing at least 100 women with their names, addresses and photos. It accuses him of illegally culling some of the information from the restricted database A conviction on the kidnapping count carries a possible life sentence.