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Terrorism Case Goes To Jury

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The Associated Press

Published: August 5, 2008

GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba - America's first war crimes trial since World War II went to the jury Monday as a panel of six U.S. military officers began deliberating whether to send Osama bin Laden's former driver away for life.

The jurors, who were handpicked by the Pentagon, were reviewing evidence from a two-week trial at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base that has become the first full test of the Bush administration's system for prosecuting alleged terrorists.

They met behind closed doors for about 45 minutes before recessing until this morning.

Salim Hamdan, a Yemeni held at the base since May 2002, faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted of conspiracy and supporting terrorism.

In closing arguments, prosecutors said Hamdan's service to the al-Qaida chief over five years in Afghanistan helped his boss execute terrorist plots including the Sept. 11 attacks.

"He is an al-Qaida warrior," Justice Department prosecutor John Murphy said, pointing to the detainee who wore a white robe and a tan sports coat.
Defense lawyers counter that Hamdan was merely a member of bin Laden's motor pool. His Pentagon-appointed attorney, Navy Lt. Cmdr. Brian Mizer, said in closing arguments that his client never joined al-Qaida and had no part in planning attacks.

"If every garage mechanic and driver knew the details and was involved in the planning of the attack, it never would have happened," Mizer said.

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