Monday, October 15, 2007

Khadr trial to go ahead.

CANOE -- CNEWS - Canada: U.S. military judge says Khadr trial should go ahead next month
A U.S. military judge has ordered the trial of Canadian detainee Omar Khadr to go ahead as planned on Nov. 8 in Guantanamo Bay.

Judge Col. Peter Brownback cited the need for the case to proceed in a "judicious manner." The decision comes even though Khadr's lawyers have taken the case to the U.S. Court of Appeals.

The 21-year-old Khadr is facing murder and terrorism charges for allegedly throwing a grenade that killed a U.S. medic in a firefight in Afghanistan in 2002, when he was 15.
At issue is the fact that Khadr hasn't been designated an "unlawful" enemy combatant, as required by Congress. Kuebler argues that the murder trial at the U.S. naval base in Cuba wouldn't allow him to raise key issues of international and constitutional law.

It was Brownback himself who dismissed the case in June, saying he lacked jurisdiction to try Khadr because the accused hadn't been declared an "unlawful" enemy combatant.

But the military review panel later decided Brownback has the authority after all to try Khadr.

The U.S. military is seeking a life sentence against the accused.


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