First Guantanamo War Crimes Trial Goes to Jury
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba — A jury is deliberating the verdict for Osama bin Laden’s former driver at the first Guantanamo war crimes trial.
Four of the six military officers in the jury must agree for a conviction of Salim Hamdan on charges of conspiracy and supporting terrorism.
Mr. Hamdan, a Yemeni, faces a maximum life sentence. His case is the first full test of the Bush administration’s system for prosecuting alleged terrorists.
Prosecutors said in closing arguments today that Mr. Hamdan provided the terrorist leader aid and protection that helped make possible the September 11, 2011 attacks.
But defense attorneys say he was just a low-level bin Laden employee who never joined Al Qaeda’s conspiracy against America.
