Saddam's lawyer lashes out at the court
(AP)
Updated: 2006-06-12 19:54
An American lawyer on Saddam Hussein's defense team lashed out at the court
trying him Monday, saying it was not giving the defense enough time to present
its case, intimidated its witnesses and put the defense at "a serious
disadvantage."
Saddam Hussein listens during his trial in
Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, June 12, 2006. Saddam and seven co-defendants are
on trial for torture, illegal arrests and the killing of nearly 150 people
from Dujail after a 1982 assassination attempt on Saddam in the town.
[AP] |
Curtis Doebbler chided the chief judge for not responding to a series of
defense motions, including ones challenging the court's legitimacy and seeking
documents.
"We are at a serious disadvantage to the prosecution because of the way we
have been treated by the court," Doebbler told chief judge Raouf Abdel-Rahman.
"We want to work for justice. But that must start by having a fair trial. But
under the current circumstances, that doesn't seem possible. We ask that the
trial be stopped to allow us adequate time to prepare our defense."
He pointed out that the prosecution took more than five months to present its
case, while the court is rushing the defense, which began its arguments in
April. Abdel-Rahman has repeatedly demanded the defense present full lists of
witnesses.
"Our witnesses have been intimidated by the court and have been assaulted,"
Doebbler said. "Several lawyers were assaulted as well."
Four defense witnesses were arrested two weeks ago after presenting their
testimony, and the defense said some of them had been beaten by Iraqi police as
U.S. soldiers watched. Abdel-Rahman accused the four of committing perjury.
Saddam and seven former members of his regime are on trial for charges of
crimes against humanity in a crackdown against Shiites in the town of Dujail
after a 1982 assassination attempt on Saddam. They are accused of torturing
women and children and wrongfully killing 148 Shiites sentenced to death for the
attack on the former Iraqi leader.
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