Canadian at Gitmo accepts 2 lead civilian lawyers
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A Canadian detainee charged with war crimes fired his military lawyer Wednesday and was given two new civilian attorneys during a court proceeding at Guantanamo Bay, a U.S. spokesman said.
Joseph DellaVedova, spokesman for the Pentagon’s Office of Military Commissions, said the judge in the case at the offshore U.S. jail for terrorism suspects agreed to name two civilian as lead lawyers for Omar Khadr, who accepted the new counsel.
Appointed to lead Khadr’s defense were criminal attorneys Barry Coburn and Kobie Flowers, both of Washington-based Coburn & Coffman PLLC. They did not immediately respond to e-mail messages at the isolated U.S. base in southeastern Cuba.
During the brief hearing, Khadr also agreed to have a military co-counsel, Army Maj. Jon Jackson, after being told he needed to keep at least one military lawyer under tribunal rules, DellaVedova said.
The Toronto-born Khadr, who was 15 when captured after allegedly killing an American soldier during a 2002 battle in Afghanistan, had been represented by Navy Lt. Cmdr. William Kuebler, whose superiors in the Office of Military Commissions sought to fire him in an internal dispute over his handling of the case.
At hearings earlier this year, Khadr — the last Western detainee held at Guantanamo — tried to fire all his military lawyers, but kept Kuebler on when told he had to have at least one military attorney.
On Wednesday, Khadr, now 22, told a military judge he agreed to the dismissal of Kuebler.
Kuebler, who attended the hearing, said he was “sad to leave Omar’s case without seeing it through to the end.”
But he added that “given the level of interference in Omar’s representation by the military chain of command, Omar’s decision to proceed with a new team led by independent civilian lawyers is completely understandable.”
An often outspoken military lawyer, Kuebler has argued that Khadr, who faces up to life in prison if convicted, should not be prosecuted because he was a child when his alleged crimes happened.
The military attorney also said Khadr should be sent back to Canada. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has refused to ask for Khadr’s return, saying the U.S. legal process must play itself out.
Khadr is accused of killing U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Speer of Albuquerque, New Mexico, with a grenade during a 2002 battle in Afghanistan. His war crimes trial is on hold until Nov. 16 as President Barack Obama conducts a formal review of the system for prosecuting Guantanamo detainees in special military tribunals.
The son of a slain al-Qaida financier, Khadr faces up to life in prison if convicted on charges that include murder and conspiracy.
DellaVedova said the new defense attorneys want to travel to Afghanistan to examine the place where Khadr was captured.
Related News
Admitted mastermind of Sept. 11 attacks due back in Guantanamo court as trial faces new delaySeptember 21st, 2009 Sept. 11 mastermind due back in Gitmo courtGUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba — Alleged terrorist mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was expected to make what could be his last court appearance at this military base as he responds Monday to an attempt to delay his war crimes trial. The chief military prosecutor said Mohammed, who refused to attend his last court session, would show up to respond to a request for another continuance while President Barack Obama's administration decides whether to try the alleged plotters of the Sept.
Two BSF troopers injured in Pakistan firing near JammuSeptember 17th, 2009 JAMMU - Two Border Security Force (BSF) troopers were injured in firing from the Pakistan side on a border post on International Border (IB) in Pargwal sector near Jammu Thursday evening, officials said. A senior BSF official told IANS that there was firing from a light machinegun from the Pakistan side on Nikowal border post, about 30 km west of Jammu.
AP Sources: Obama administration seeks delay in military commission trials of Gitmo detaineesSeptember 16th, 2009 AP Sources: Delay sought in Gitmo trialsWASHINGTON — The Obama administration is seeking another two-month delay in a handful of key military commission trials of terrorism detainees at Guantanamo Bay. The previous delay granted in six commission cases ends Thursday.
British military police investigate allegation soldiers raped and maimed Iraqi civilianSeptember 15th, 2009 UK military police investigate Iraq rape claimLONDON — Britain's defense ministry says the Royal Military police are investigating an allegation that soldiers raped and maimed an Iraqi man. The ministry said Tuesday that an inquiry has begun into claims that two soldiers abused a laborer at a military base in Basra, southern Iraq, in May 2003.
US military judge in 9/11 case at Guantanamo denies defense request to see secret CIA prisonsAugust 26th, 2009 Gitmo judge bars defense from secret CIA prisonsSAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Lawyers for a Guantanamo prisoner charged in the Sept. 11 attack do not need to visit secret CIA prisons where he was once held since the sites have likely changed and are no longer relevant, a military judge ruled.
AP source: Guantanamo defense lawyers under investigation over photos of CIA personnelAugust 21st, 2009 AP source: Gitmo defense lawyers investigatedWASHINGTON — The Justice Department is investigating whether Guantanamo Bay detainees charged with roles in the Sept. 11 attacks were improperly given photos of CIA officers or contractors, according to a person familiar with the investigation.
AP sources: Dozens of Gitmo cases referred to US prosecutors, could bring trials in DC, NY, VAAugust 3rd, 2009 AP sources: Gitmo cases referred to US prosecutorsWASHINGTON — Dozens of Guantanamo Bay detainee cases have been referred to federal prosecutors for possible criminal trials in the nation's capital, Virginia and New York City, officials told The Associated Press on Monday. The Justice Department's strategy of holding trials in East Coast cities could be a sharp departure from a Pentagon plan to hold all Guantanamo-related civilian and military trials in the Midwest.
AP Sources: Dozens of Gitmo cases referred for possible criminal trials in DC, NY, VAAugust 3rd, 2009 Dozens of Gitmo cases referred to US prosecutorsWASHINGTON — Dozens of Guantanamo Bay detainee cases have been referred to federal prosecutors for possible criminal trials in the nation's capital, Virginia and New York City, officials told The Associated Press on Monday as a second strategy for trying the detainees emerged within the Obama administration. The Justice Department's strategy of holding trials in East Coast cities could be a sharp departure from a Pentagon plan to hold all Guantanamo-related civilian and military trials in the Midwest.
AP sources: Dozens of Gitmo cases referred to US prosecutors in DC, NY, VAAugust 3rd, 2009 AP sources: Gitmo cases to US prosecutorsWASHINGTON — Dozens of Guantanamo Bay detainee cases have been referred to federal prosecutors for possible criminal trials in the nation's capital, Virginia and New York City, officials told The Associated Press on Monday. The Justice Department's strategy of holding trials in East Coast cities could be a sharp departure from a Pentagon plan to hold all Guantanamo-related civilian and military trials in the Midwest.
US military in Iraq says 1 civilian, 2 assailants killed in attack on American convoyJuly 22nd, 2009 US military: 3 killed in attack in IraqBAGHDAD — A U.S. military spokesman in Iraq says American soldiers have killed two people who attempted to throw grenades at a convoy west of Baghdad.
Canadian at Guantanamo reaffirms decision to fire US military lawyers, citing lack of trustJuly 15th, 2009 Canadian at Gitmo: No military lawyers wantedGUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba — A Canadian charged with war crimes reaffirmed on Wednesday his decision to fire his military lawyers, saying he doesn't trust them after an internal dispute over legal strategy. The judge in the case at the Guantanamo jail for terrorism suspects agreed to appoint two new civilian lawyers for Omar Khadr, who declined an offer of a new attorney from the Pentagon.
If US govt approves, NY judge says military lawyers likely can represent Guantanamo detaineeJune 16th, 2009 Judge: OK with Gitmo inmate using military attys.NEW YORK — Military lawyers can defend a Guantanamo detainee in federal court against charges that he participated in the bombing of two U.S. embassies in Africa, a federal judge said Tuesday, as long as the lawyers' superior officers approve.
If US govt approves, judge in NYC says military lawyers can represent Guantanamo defendantJune 16th, 2009 Judge: OK for Gitmo inmate to use military attysNEW YORK — Military lawyers can defend a Guantanamo detainee in federal court against charges that he participated in the bombing of two U.S. embassies in Africa, a federal judge said Tuesday, as long as the lawyers' superior officers approve.
Canadian detainee asks to dismiss US military defense attorneys after witnessing infightingJune 1st, 2009 Canadian at Guantanamo asks to dismiss US lawyersGUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba — A Canadian detainee rejected his U.S. military attorneys Monday at the first session of the Guantanamo war crimes tribunals called under President Barack Obama, complicating his high-profile case and the administration's timeline for closing the prison.
Pro-LTTE demonstration in CanadaApril 12th, 2009 OTTAWA - Thousands of Tamils living in Canada gathered in front of Parliament Hill to protest against Sri Lankan Government's military offensive against banned terrorist organization, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. Holding LTTE flags and shouting "Tamil Tigers, freedom fighters," the protesters urged the Canadian Government to reverse its 2006 decision to list the LTTE as a terrorist entity under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
Loading ...