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| Arabia |
| USS Cole bombers appeal |
| 2004-12-08 |
| THE appeals trial of six men convicted in the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole opened today with prosecutors demanding the execution of two defendants who escaped the death penalty. The first convictions in the al-Qaeda attack that killed 17 American sailors were handed down in September, with four Yemenis sentenced to five to 10 years in prison. Two men - Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, a Saudi suspected of being an associate of Osama bin Laden, and Yemeni militant Jamal al-Badawi - were sentenced to death. Al-Badawi, interrupting proceedings from behind bars in the courtroom dock, shouted to Judge Saeed al-Qattaa that the proceedings were a sham. "I know the verdict is ready in your pocket," al-Badawi yelled. Prosecutors said defendants Fahd al-Qasaa and Maamoun al-Msoua, who were sentenced to 10 and eight years respectively, should be executed because their collaboration in planning the attack has been proven. The prosecution added that the previous trial was erroneous in not sentencing them to death since Yemeni law stipulates that any crime that results in a death is punishable by death. Al-Nashiri, who is believed to have masterminded the Cole attack and also thought to have directed the 1998 bombings at the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, was the only defendant not present during the trial. He is in US custody at an undisclosed location. Al-Badawi said he would not recognise the court and the four other defendants asked the court to contact their lawyers to be present in future hearings. The lawyers could not be reached by The Associated Press to explain their absence. The trial was adjourned until December 15. |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #1 "Yer Honor, if killin' infidels is wrong, I don't wanna be right." |
| Posted by: Dreadnought 2004-12-08 3:32:46 PM |