Bin Laden driver found guilty in Guantanamo trial (Roundup)

US News

Aug 6, 2008, 15:10 GMT

Washington - The former driver for Osama bin Laden, Salim Hamdan, was found guilty on Wednesday of providing material support for terrorism in the first trial of a detainee at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. A file sketch by courtroom artist Janet Hamlin, reviewed by the U.S. Military, defendant Salim Hamdan attends his trial inside the war crimes courthouse at Camp Justice, the legal complex of the U.S. Military Commissions, at Guantanamo Bay U.S. Naval Base, in Cuba. EPA/JANET HAMLIN / PHOTO OF SKETCH MADE BY US MILITARY PHOTOGRAPHER. IMAGE REVIEWED BY U.S. MILITARY PRIOR TO TRANSMISSION.

A file sketch by courtroom artist Janet Hamlin, reviewed by the U.S. Military, defendant Salim Hamdan attends his trial inside the war crimes courthouse at Camp Justice, the legal complex of the U.S. Military Commissions, at Guantanamo Bay U.S. Naval Base, in Cuba. EPA/JANET HAMLIN / PHOTO OF SKETCH MADE BY US MILITARY PHOTOGRAPHER. IMAGE REVIEWED BY U.S. MILITARY PRIOR TO TRANSMISSION.Hamdan, 37, was found not guilty of the more serious charge of conspiracy to commit terrorism, but still faces a possible life imprisonment when the sentencing phase of the trial gets underway later Wednesday, Major Gail Crawford, a spokeswoman for the military tribunals said from Guantanamo. The six-officer military jury arrived at the verdict after a trial that lasted just more than two weeks and after jury deliberations that began on Monday. Hamdan's case was the first to go to trial in the military commissions ordered by President George W Bush, and also the beginning of the first US military tribunals since World War II. Hamdan is the second conviction under the commissions. Australian David Hicks pleaded guilty in 2007 and was sent back to has native country to serve out the remainder of his sentence. He is now free. Hamdan was captured in 2001 in Afghanistan and has been held at Guantanamo since May 2002. He is among the 20 of Guantanamo's 265 detainees facing war crimes charges. The Pentagon plans to charge an additional 80 suspects. The US government alleges that Hamdan, a Yemeni, was a member of al-Qaeda terrorist network leader Osama bin Laden's inner circle and was aware of terrorist plots. The defence argued that Hamdan merely served as a driver and was not involved in terrorism. In written answers to questions posed by Hamdan's defence attorneys, the alleged mastermind of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, said that Hamdan was a low-level driver and mechanic who was not educated and in no position to support terrorism or have knowledge of potential plots. Mohammed, who is also held at Guantanamo, refused to testify in court. He and four co-defendants are set to be tried later this year in connection with the September 11 attacks and face the death penalty if convicted. Prosecutors on Tuesday argued the judge, Navy Captain Keith Allred, had incorrectly issued instructions to the jury by refusing to declare that the killing of lawful combatants by unlawful combatants constituted a war crime. The defence replied that any change in instructions would be grounds for a mistrial.

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the kangaroo courtAug 6th, 2008 - 15:24:53

is so predictable.

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Nancy Pelosi's MomAug 6th, 2008 - 16:10:48

O.K. now let the poor misguided practitioner of the religion of peace go and he can come live here in the peace and tranquility of San Francisco.

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SP4: Then AgainAug 6th, 2008 - 16:23:38

...some folks are really guilty.

Now, all you libnazi apologists, start the process of telling us how innocent the driver of Osama Bin Laden was and how he could NEVER know what this guy was doing!

I cannot wait to watch the moonwalks that are going to appear!

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john mccarthyAug 6th, 2008 - 17:24:28

Forty years ago the US Government conducted another top secret court-martial with fabricated evidence, witness tampering, a subsequent recantation which was secreted for two years and ultimately ruled as 'newly found evidence and fraud on the court' resulting in the conviction for premeditated murder being overturned and eventually dismissed because a conviction at a new trial 'would be highly unlikely'. For more information Google my name plus CIA. John McCarthy

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NPSAug 6th, 2008 - 18:36:42

Where the heck is OBL? All we can get is the lame driver? We are pathetic...

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and SP4Aug 6th, 2008 - 19:08:02

is guilty of terminal stupidity.

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lanceAug 6th, 2008 - 20:02:11

Convicting a limo driver eh? I would really like to see the evidence they had.

So, not only are criminals guilty, but their servants are too. How about their relatives? Business associates? Where does the list end? How about Bush Sr. and the CIA who gave Bin Laden startup money?

The rule of law, and justice, has appeared to just vaporized. Just like those WMDs.

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To LanceAug 6th, 2008 - 21:38:53

Indeed.
Just wait for the Bullsh*t Brigade to come back with some form of mental diarrhea.

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PperfectAug 6th, 2008 - 22:10:45

Hey SP4, we are just proud you could get his driver. Too bad we took our eyes off the ball and let the real bad guy escape! And that does make you and your's wrong.

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Of course........Aug 7th, 2008 - 15:15:18

he'd be found guilty - to appease everyone from falling down on the job of getting Bin Laden.

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