Judge in Gitmo Driver Trial Nixes Interrogation Evidence

Afghanistan questioning of Hamdan came after stress, without lawyer: defense
By Jonas Oransky,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 21, 2008 4:42 PM CDT
Judge in Gitmo Driver Trial Nixes Interrogation Evidence
In this courtroom sketch reviewed by U.S. Military officials, Guantanamo detainee Salim Ahmed Hamdan, far left, sits flanked by his legal team.   (AP Photo/Janet Hamlin,Pool)

A military judge at the war-crimes tribunal for Osama bin Laden’s alleged driver today barred evidence from a series of 2002 interrogations in Afghanistan, the Miami Herald reports. Salim Hamdan says he was subjected to sleep deprivation and was not offered a lawyer; his defense team wants all interrogations stricken. On the first day of his trial at Guantanamo Bay, the Yemeni formally entered a not guilty plea.

The jury selected today from a 13-member pool consists of six senior officers, at least one from each service branch. One potential juror who was excused had been at the Pentagon during the 9/11 attacks. The judge ordered that jurors' names not be released; although the lawyers had access to more detail, information discussed in open court was limited. (More Salim Ahmed Hamdan stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X