Secret Evidence Bogs Down Gitmo Hearings (AP)

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Secret Evidence Bogs Down Gitmo Hearings

By MICHAEL MELIA – 28 minutes ago

GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba (AP) — The secrecy
shrouding government files on terror suspects is bogging
down the Pentagon's effort to hold trials at Guantanamo
Bay, with defense attorneys accusing the government of
withholding potential exculpatory evidence.

At pretrial hearings this week, attorneys for two al-Qaida
suspects captured in Afghanistan said they need more
access to interrogators, witnesses and records.
Prosecutors objected, citing a need to protect the
identities of U.S. service members and other security
concerns.

The hearings did not resolve the disputes, which appear
likely to further delay the launch of first U.S. war-crime
tribunals since the World War II era. The first detainees
were charged more than three years ago, but repeated
legal challenges have kept any from going to trial.

"We're going to have to see how willing the judges are to
interpret the rules so as to give defense counsel some kind
of chance to actually defend their clients," said Navy Lt.
Cmdr. William Kuebler, a defense attorney for detainee Omar
Khadr. "That means litigating these discovery issues and
that takes time."

-snip-

Read more: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jt9TzsSrzKM48iHKGsIGRLUv8E3gD8UMR1CO0

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Related thread: Military Prosecutors Set to Open Major 9/11 Case (LBN/N.Y. Times)

[midnight]

1. How functional is a secret government and the people who have

to live with a secret government? Let's bring this secret to an end!