Post by sclcookie on May 30, 2006 0:21:19 GMT -5
Hussein defense continues at trial----Witnesses say Shiites' death
sentences were fair
The defense in Saddam Hussein's trial brought witnesses Monday trying to
show that a court that sentenced 148 Shiites to death during a 1980s
crackdown was just and gave them a proper defense.
Hussein and seven former members of his regime are on trial on charges of
crimes against humanity for killings, torture and the imprisonment of
families during the crackdown launched after a 1982 assassination attempt
against Hussein in the Shiite town of Dujail.
The first witness Monday was a former lawyer in the Revolutionary Court,
testifying on behalf of Awad al-Bandar, the court's chief judge who
sentenced the 148 Shiites to death for alleged involvement in the
assassination attempt.
"The court allowed defendant to commission a lawyer and if a defendant was
not able to hire a lawyer then the court would appoint one for him. The
court also was allowing all defendants to talk freely," the witness said,
speaking from behind a curtain to preserve his anonymity.
"Mr. al-Bandar took the humanitarian aspect into consideration, and he was
fair and made all judgment according to law," he said.
The prosecution in the Hussein trial has argued that the trial of the 148
was effectively a show trial, giving them no chance to defend themselves,
and has presented documents showing that children were among those
sentenced to death.
Al-Bandar has insisted the trial was fair and that all the defendants
confessed to a role in the attack on Hussein. But he has acknowledged that
there was only 1 defense lawyer for all 148 and that the trial only lasted
16 days.
The defense is in its 3rd week of presenting witnesses in the 7-month-old
trial of Hussein and his former regime officials. The 8 face possible
execution by hanging if convicted.
(source: Associated Press)
sentences were fair
The defense in Saddam Hussein's trial brought witnesses Monday trying to
show that a court that sentenced 148 Shiites to death during a 1980s
crackdown was just and gave them a proper defense.
Hussein and seven former members of his regime are on trial on charges of
crimes against humanity for killings, torture and the imprisonment of
families during the crackdown launched after a 1982 assassination attempt
against Hussein in the Shiite town of Dujail.
The first witness Monday was a former lawyer in the Revolutionary Court,
testifying on behalf of Awad al-Bandar, the court's chief judge who
sentenced the 148 Shiites to death for alleged involvement in the
assassination attempt.
"The court allowed defendant to commission a lawyer and if a defendant was
not able to hire a lawyer then the court would appoint one for him. The
court also was allowing all defendants to talk freely," the witness said,
speaking from behind a curtain to preserve his anonymity.
"Mr. al-Bandar took the humanitarian aspect into consideration, and he was
fair and made all judgment according to law," he said.
The prosecution in the Hussein trial has argued that the trial of the 148
was effectively a show trial, giving them no chance to defend themselves,
and has presented documents showing that children were among those
sentenced to death.
Al-Bandar has insisted the trial was fair and that all the defendants
confessed to a role in the attack on Hussein. But he has acknowledged that
there was only 1 defense lawyer for all 148 and that the trial only lasted
16 days.
The defense is in its 3rd week of presenting witnesses in the 7-month-old
trial of Hussein and his former regime officials. The 8 face possible
execution by hanging if convicted.
(source: Associated Press)