Latest in 9/11 trial
Military Judge James Pohl opens the session at 9:35 am. He notes the names of those present, including each of the defendants except for Ramzi Binalshibh. An anonymous US Army major takes the stand to testify that Binalshibh had been advised of his right to attend proceedings and has chosen not to do so.
It’s a new year—the final one of the Obama administration—and we’re back at Guantanamo still working, as the Military Commission convened to try five of the 9/11 conspirators resumes pre-trial sessions.
You remember our rogue’s gallery of defendants—Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Walid bin Attash, Ramzi Binalshibh, Ali Abdul Aziz Ali, and Mustafa al Hawsawi—stand accused of plotting the attacks of September 11th, which killed nearly 3,000 people.
Judge Pohl opens the session this morning, recalling an unnamed U.S. Army Captain as a witness for the defense. She testifies that Mr. Hawsawi—the only defendant not present in the courtroom—has freely chosen not to attend the day’s commission hearings. Judge Pohl finds that Hawsawi voluntarily waived his presence at the hearing, and the substantive proceedings begin.
Still Too Noisy?
Judge Pohl calls the commission to order, and this time, we actually have a session. Everyone is here except Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and Mustafa Al Hawsawi, but they have waived their presences voluntarily. So we’re good to go.
Military Commissions Chief Prosecutor Mark Martins issued the following statement over the weekend in advance of this week's pre-trial hearings in the 9/11 case:
CHIEF PROSECUTOR MARK MARTINS
REMARKS AT GUANTANAMO BAY
5 DECEMBER 2015
Here is the statement from Chief Prosecutor Brig. Gen. Mark Martins at the close of a two-week series of pre-trial sessions in the military commissions case against five alledged 9/11 conspirators, United States v. Mohammad et al.
Camp Justice was quiet yesterday. Based on the need for translators to complete a last-minute assignment, Judge Pohl cancelled a pre-trial hearing scheduled for Wednesday in the military commission trial of five Guantanamo Bay detainees accused of orchestrating the September 11th attacks.