Prosecutor Loses Bid to Delay Hearings

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Prosecutor Loses Bid to Delay Hearings
January 17, 2009
Miami Herald

GUANTANAMO BAY NAVY BASE, Cuba - In a surprise move Friday, reflecting uncertainty in the future of President Bush's war court, the Pentagon prosecutor sought - and lost - a late-night bid to delay next week's terror hearings that straddle the inauguration of Barack Obama.

"Both motions were denied. It's full-speed ahead," said Air Force Lt. Col. Ann Knabe, spokeswoman for military commissions.

Had the judges granted the request, the Defense Department would have had to ground a special flight of war crimes staff, including lawyers, judges and court reporters, plus dozens of reporters and victims of the Sept. 11, attacks that was slated to arrive here Saturday.

"The government cannot represent with confidence that there will not be an interruption in all commission proceedings," Army Col. Lawrence Morris wrote Judge Stephen Henley, an Army colonel presiding in the war crimes prosecution of five men accused of conspiring in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

Morris also said in his 9 p.m. submission, obtained by The Miami Herald, that the government had "certain discovery issues" as well as unavailable witnesses that would likely delay a full hearing on whether 9/11 accused Ramzi bin al Shibh was mentally competent to stand trial.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/prosecutor-loses-bid-to-delay-hearings.html?col=1186032310810