khadar needs a legal team

right or wrong, innocent or guilty; this canadian has the right to a fair trial and proper legal representation. double standard; american's still kill innocent civilians in iraq and elsewhere, in there quest of so called freedom and democracy ...

Khadr likely to get new legal team
Last Updated Fri, 13 Jan 2006 08:51:23 EST
CBC News
cbc.ca/story/world/national/2006/01/13/khadr-trial060113.html

A Canadian teenager being held at a U.S. military prison in Guantanamo Bay may soon get a new, more senior legal team.

Omar Khadr, 19, didn't speak during the second day of pre-trial hearings into his murder case. Charged in the death in 2002 of an American soldier in Afghanistan, his next court appearance is March 27.

Khadr had requested Lt.-Col. Colby Vokey, an experienced U.S. military lawyer, because his current lawyer has no trial experience.

The presiding officer at Khadr's tribunal, Col. Robert Chester, said Friday that Khadr should soon have Vokey. Khadr has also requested a Canadian lawyer, but Chester said he wasn't sure whether foreigners could participate in the controversial tribunal process.

Chester expressed approval of Khadr's wardrobe, saying the dress shirt was more appropriate than the sweatshirt the teenager wore on Thursday. He also ordered that Khadr be addressed as "Mr. Khadr" and not "Omar."

However, in a ruling late Thursday, Chester refused to issue a gag order on American prosecutors at the trial.

Khadr's Washington-based civilian lawyer, Muneer Ahmad, had requested a gag order on Col. Moe Davis, who heads tribunal prosecutors. Earlier in the week, Davis called Khadr a terrorist who smiled while making bombs.

But Chester refused the request, saying the comments were "potentially harmful" but didn't serve to deny Khadr a fair trial.

Chester said Khadr's lawyer, Ahmad, had made "negative characterizations" about the military commissions, calling them a sham and kangaroo court.

Khadr has been at the military base on the eastern tip of Cuba since October 2002. He's charged with murder, aiding the enemy and conspiracy to attack civilians.