Guilty verdict returned in first Guantanamo trial
Wednesday, 06 Aug 2008 20:06
First Guantanamo detainee to go on trial in US found guilty of terror offences by military jury
In Focus
A blow-by-blow account of Barack Obama and John McCain's second presidential debate, covered live by inthenews.co.uk. Full Story
The first Guantanamo detainee to go on trial in the United States has been found guilty of terrorism offences by a military jury.
A split decision from a six-strong panel of army officers convicted Osama Bin Laden's former driver of five counts of material support for terrorism.
But the jury acquitted Salim Hamdan of more serious conspiracy charges, including murder.
The Yemeni now faces life in prison following today's landmark verdict. Hamdan, who is entitled to appeal to the supreme court, is due to be sentenced later on Wednesday.
US authorities created the military commission system specifically to try detainees at Guantanamo.
Hamdan has been held at the Cuba-based detention camp since being picked up in Afghanistan in late 2001.
But the trial has been attacked for permitting evidence that would not have been allowed in a civilian court.
Human Rights watch said the trial had exposed the "fundamental flaws" of the military commissions.
The New York-based group said pages of relevant documents were received by Hamdan's defence just before the trial began, while other evidence appeared while the military judge was sitting.
"A trial that depends on handicapping the defense can't possibly be fair," Human Rights watch senior counterterrorism counsel Jennifer Daskal said.
"The military judge tried at times to mitigate the commission's most unjust rules, but the flaws in the system won out."
Britain's Reprieve also denounced the trial, with its legal director likening the proceedings to "amateur hour".
"These trials need to be professional, clear and open. Instead, we've got a shambles that brings us no closer to justice," Zachary Katznelson said.
"These trials are not just about a few men and what they may have done – they are about the message the United States is sending to the world. And that message right now is flat wrong: convictions by any means necessary.
"The US needs to show it stands for openness and fairness – the very values we are fighting for. Instead, we get verdicts rammed down the gullet of justice. That's not going to bring anyone over to our side."
In an initial reaction from the White House, spokesman Tony Fratto defended the military commission system.
He said it was a "fair and appropriate legal process".
"We look forward to other cases moving forward to trial," Mr Fratto said.
Even if the jury had acquitted Hamdan today he had been expected to remain in custody after US authorities said the driver was still considered an enemy combatant.
Hamdan's trial is the first US war crimes trial to take place since the second world war.