Judge Orders Arrangement for Testimony of Guantanamo Detainees
The judge overseeing the prosecution of Osama bin Laden’s driver has told lawyers in the case to work out an arrangement to allow requested testimony by the mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks and seven other detainees.
The military commission trial of the driver, Salim Ahmed Hamdan, is scheduled to begin on Monday.
The judge in the case, Navy Capt. Keith Allred, said the arrangement could include a time delay or videotaped depositions and should protect national security, the Washington Post reports. Prosecutors fear live testimony could result in the disclosure of sensitive classified information.
Defense lawyers for Hamdan say the evidence will show their client had no involvement in terrorism. Allred appeared to agree that the testimony would be helpful, the story says. “I want the government to know that I see this as relevant, necessary and exculpatory,” he said. “I just believe the defendant cannot have a fair trial without this evidence.”
Meanwhile, lawyers for Hamdan say they learned on Saturday that their client was subjected to sleep deprivation over a period of 50 days when he was making statements to interrogators, the Associated Press reports. Lawyer Navy Lt. Cmdr. Brian Mizer said charges should be dismissed because of the abuse and prosecutors should be sanctioned for waiting so long to disclose it.
The sleep deprivation was known as Operation Sandman, the defense lawyers said.
