The defence team of Saddam Hussein are venting their spleens in public, about the futility of their task.
They are reportedly furious with the "politically motivated statements" by unnamed Iraqi officials, who talk about a quick execution if Saddam is found guilty.
Khalil Dulaimi, Saddam's chief lawyer, said:
"There is no chance of holding a just and honest trial in such an atmosphere and these verdicts appear to have been issued beforehand. It's futile to even have a defence".
Dulaimi went on to say that the Iraqi special court, that will try Saddam, had not notified the defence of the timing of the trial or sent any paperwork on the charge of killing 143 Shi'ite villagers after the failed assassination bid.
The defence believe that the Iraqi authorities want a quick trial, without charging Saddam with other crimes; these could implicate other Iraqi politicians, who currently hold power now.
It is also worth noting that there may be those in the USA who also back this stance, as a more protracted and detailed trail would highlight Washington's previous backing of Saddam.
Doubtless, those who want to see Saddam executed will get their way. However, those who want to see justice done, and all the crimes committed under Saddam's rule (by him and others, yet to be named) brought into the public arena may be disappointed.
Will justice be served, and will Iraq be healed by a Kangaroo court?
Friday, September 09, 2005
Thursday, September 08, 2005
Saddam Hussein Has Not Confessed
Contrary to earlier reports, it now seems that Saddam Hussein has not confessed to any crimes committed during his presidency.
That at least is the case according to Khalil Dulaimi, Saddam Hussein's chief attorney.
He is quoted as saying:
"There was no confession by the president and all the investigations in this case do not implicate him at all" .
Iraqi President, Jalal Talabani, had said that an investigator who questioned Saddam told him that he had extracted confessions from him and that Saddam had signed them.
This is a matter for the trial to decide.
That at least is the case according to Khalil Dulaimi, Saddam Hussein's chief attorney.
He is quoted as saying:
"There was no confession by the president and all the investigations in this case do not implicate him at all" .
Iraqi President, Jalal Talabani, had said that an investigator who questioned Saddam told him that he had extracted confessions from him and that Saddam had signed them.
This is a matter for the trial to decide.
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
Saddam Hussein Confesses
Saddam Hussein has confessed to crimes, and should be hanged "20 times". That is at least the view of Jalal Talabani, his successor as Iraq's president.
Quote:
"Saddam deserves a death sentence 20 times a day because he tried to assassinate me 20 times".
Adding:
"There are 100 reasons to sentence Saddam to death".
Conveniently, Talabani is refusing to sign the death warrant should one be forthcoming.
His excuse is that, as leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, he had once signed up his party to an international ban on capital punishment.
Quote:
"Saddam deserves a death sentence 20 times a day because he tried to assassinate me 20 times".
Adding:
"There are 100 reasons to sentence Saddam to death".
Conveniently, Talabani is refusing to sign the death warrant should one be forthcoming.
His excuse is that, as leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, he had once signed up his party to an international ban on capital punishment.
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
Saddam Hussein Meets Lawyer
Saddam Hussein met his Iraqi lawyer, Khalil Dulaimi, yesterday.
The meeting dealt with Saddam's trial for the 1982 massacre of Shiites, which will begin on October 19.
Saddam and seven others will be tried over the massacre of over 140 Shiite villagers in Dujail, after a failed assassination bid against him.
He faces the death penalty if found guilty.
Members of Saddam's Jordan-based defence team have said the announcement of the trial date was politically motivated, in order to distract attention from the deteriorating situation in Iraq.
They also have complained that Dulaimi does not have enough time to adequately prepare for the trial.
The meeting dealt with Saddam's trial for the 1982 massacre of Shiites, which will begin on October 19.
Saddam and seven others will be tried over the massacre of over 140 Shiite villagers in Dujail, after a failed assassination bid against him.
He faces the death penalty if found guilty.
Members of Saddam's Jordan-based defence team have said the announcement of the trial date was politically motivated, in order to distract attention from the deteriorating situation in Iraq.
They also have complained that Dulaimi does not have enough time to adequately prepare for the trial.
Monday, September 05, 2005
Defence Complains About Trial Date
Saddam Hussein's defence team have complained that they will not have enough time to prepare for the trial, which is due to start on October 19.
A legal adviser to Saddam's family, Abdel-Haq Alani, said that starting the trial next month would "undercut the defence capability to review the case."
Alani said that the defence had received no official notice about the date.
Quote:
"How can one review thousands and thousands of pages in just a matter of a few days. This court has been deliberating with the evidence for the past year, but it has been keeping it away from the defence, which is not fair."
Under Iraqi law, the defendants will stand before the judge while he reads the charges. The defence will then be given the opportunity to respond, and ask for a postponement.
Saddam faces the death penalty if he is convicted.
A legal adviser to Saddam's family, Abdel-Haq Alani, said that starting the trial next month would "undercut the defence capability to review the case."
Alani said that the defence had received no official notice about the date.
Quote:
"How can one review thousands and thousands of pages in just a matter of a few days. This court has been deliberating with the evidence for the past year, but it has been keeping it away from the defence, which is not fair."
Under Iraqi law, the defendants will stand before the judge while he reads the charges. The defence will then be given the opportunity to respond, and ask for a postponement.
Saddam faces the death penalty if he is convicted.
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