9/11 Case: Khalid Sheikh to be arraigned in Guantanamo Bay

By Farhan Shahid May 5th, 2012 ( No Comment )

Guantanamo Bay: Alleged mastermind of 9/11 Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his four accomplices will be arraigned for their alleged role in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on World Trade Centre.

US officials believe that Al-Qaeda former brain chief Sheikh is the main person behind the 9/11 plot.

It will be the first appearance before a military judge of Sheih since he was charged a month ago.

In the court hearing, the charges would be read out to Khalid Sheikh, and he would plead guilty or not-guilty.

Others culprits are Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak Bin ‘Attash, Ramzi Binalshibh, Ali Abdul Aziz Ali, and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi.

They are charged with terrorism, conspiracy, attacking civilian objects, murder in violation of the law of war, attacking civilians, hijacking aircraft and destruction of property in violation of the law of war.

If convicted, the five alleged will face the death penalty.

“I’ve had conversations with other people who believe the circus is going to begin with the first appearance,” CNN quoted Rear Adm. Donald Guter, who once served as the Navy’s top lawyer.

“One of the most important things that’s going to happen at arraignment is the scheduling of the trial and the scheduling of the motions hearings, and I’m sure there will be many,” according to Neal Puckett, a lawyer and retired Marine colonel who has spent most of his career in military courtrooms.

As per law, after arraignment the court would meet meet the constitutional requirement for a speedy trial.

“The reality of course is that no one at Gitmo is getting a speedy trial. The rules are written as such to run the clock from the time that the charges are actually preferred or sworn, and of course that process has sort of started and stopped and started and stopped several times,” Puckett said.

Military trail at Guantanamo Bay of Sheikh and other accomplices were announced last April by Attorney General Eric Holder. However, American Civil Liberties Union and civil rights groups had criticized the decision.