Terrorism
Judge Lowers Padilla Sentence Because of Harsh Confinement
Posted Jan 22, 2008, 12:41 pm CDT
By Debra Cassens Weiss
Updated: Jose Padilla, once accused of plotting to release a dirty bomb in the United States, has been sentenced to 17 years and four months in prison for conspiring to "murder, kidnap and maim” people overseas.
The 37-year-old Padilla had been expected to get life in prison, the Miami Herald reports. U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke of Miami said she reduced the sentence because of Padilla’s prior harsh confinement as an enemy combatant.
One juror had told the Herald that Padilla, convicted in August, appeared to be a small pawn in the conspiracy. Before the trial he was held for 3 ½ years as an enemy combatant based on the dirty bomb allegations, but he was never charged with that crime.
Cooke said she took into account the harsh conditions of Padilla's confinement that included having no mattress, no books, and no contact with family members or a lawyer, Bloomberg reports.
"I dispute the government's contention that I can't take into account these considerations in fashioning a sentence,'' Cooke said.
Prosecutors said they would appeal.
Updated at 11:52 a.m. CT to include the Bloomberg account of the sentencing.
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Comments
Posted by J. - 5 months, 1 week, 6 days, 22 hours, 50 minutes ago
This affirmative action appointee threatens OUR LIVES!
In her twisted mind, we should have no qualm about sitting next to this guy on an airplane when he is released for “good behavior” in 10 years!
If this country was still run by people with conviction and brains, Padilla would have been hung in the town square YEARS AGO.
Does this idiot really think that when he is released, he’ll say, “Gee, I like America after all! No more Jihad for me!”
No, crimes like this should immediately result in the death penalty. No loss to anyone.
Start praying that none of your family members are blown up over the Atlantic next decade. And if they are, you’ll know who to blame.
Posted by Paul - 5 months, 1 week, 5 days, 22 hours, 40 minutes ago
It is a little more complicated than that. She pissed off t he left, too:
“Expect the ACLU to go ballistic - today a United States District Court Judge hearing the Padilla case refused to toss out wiretap evidence as requested by the defense. WTG Marcia Cooke! “
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