An Italian judge on Wednesday began deliberating the fate of 26 Americans and seven Italians charged with kidnapping an Egyptian terror suspect in 2003, as the first trial in the world involving the CIA's extraordinary rendition program drew to a close.

After nearly three years of hearings, Judge Oscar Magi heard the last rebuttals before beginning deliberations. A verdict — expected later Wednesday — will be the first legal appraisal of the CIA's program to abduct suspected terror suspects and transfer them to third countries for interrogation.