Khadr trial date up in air after 'secret' refiling of charges: defence lawyer

[tuvor]

Source: CBC

Legal proceedings against Canadian Omar Khadr have been thrown into fresh uncertainty after the head of the U.S. military commission process at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, secretly withdrew, then re-issued charges against all defendants, Khadr's military defence lawyer said Tuesday.

The procedure — referred to as "withdrawal and re-referral" — has the legal effect of nullifying all prior proceedings in Khadr's case, Lt.-Cmdr. William Kuebler said in an email to CBC News.

He said documents recently disclosed by the U.S. Defence Department show that Susan Crawford, the Pentagon's top official for the military commissions, withdrew all charges on Dec. 17 and refiled them last Friday.

Kuebler said the latest "circus-like" proceedings could be a calculated ploy to pre-empt the incoming administration of president-elect Barack Obama, who has pledged to close the detention centre and shut down the controversial military commission process. Obama has said he wants those charged in the commission process to face trial in U.S. civilian courts.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/01/13/khadr.html

[annabanana]

1. Just WHO down there still supports this frankenstein system?

The Prosecutors quit.. the defense has been speaking out (see last night's Maddow show).. Just who's career is enhanced by pulling this kind of crap at this stage of the game?

[PDJane]

2. It certainly isn't Khadr........

And this is outrageous.

[maddezmom]

3. kick

:kick: