Detainee, Lawyer Boycott Gitmo Trial

[unhappycamper]

Detainee, Lawyer Boycott Gitmo Trial
October 28, 2008
Associated Press

GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba - A Yemeni man accused of being Al-Qaida's former media director and his Pentagon-appointed lawyer refused to talk Monday, but their boycott didn't stop a military judge from beginning Guantanamo's second war crimes trial.

Ali Hamza al-Bahlul, facing a possible life sentence, sat silently at his defense table in a tan prison jumpsuit. His lawyer, Air Force Maj. David Frakt, said al-Bahlul was boycotting Guantanamo's second war-crimes trial because he rejects a military attorney and has been barred from representing himself. Frakt then declared he would also remain silent while in the courtroom in respect of al-Bahlul's wishes.

Frakt refused to respond when asked by the judge if he wished to question a pool of 13 potential jurors - all U.S military officers flown in from other U.S. bases over the weekend.

More than half the jury pool told a Marine prosecutor, Maj. Charles Hale, that they had previously served in the military commission process for former Guantanamo detainee David Hicks, who wound up serving a nine-month prison sentence in his native Australia under a plea deal before the case went to trial here.

Hale questioned prospective jurors about their previous commission experience or attitudes toward Islam, among other topics.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/detainee-lawyer-boycott-gitmo-trial.html?col=1186032310810&wh=wh