Monday, November 06, 2006
Saddam's defense team - judgement illegitimate
Saddam Hussain
A member of Saddam Hussain's defence team said the death sentence against the former Iraqi leader was "illegitimate" and accused the United States of being behind the judgment. Najeeb Al Nuaimi, the former Qatari justice minister and lawyer of the deposed Iraqi president, told Gulf News in Doha yesterday that the sentence had already been pronounced long before the trial started and he expected the appeal court to reconfirm the verdict. "The judgment is illegitimate because it was based on illegitimate procedures. The defence team was deprived from carrying out the defence proceedings, from submitting useful memos and materials and from holding a final argument before the court. This is against all legal procedures," Al Nuaimi said following his arrival to Doha from Baghdad.
"They have justified the measures with our alleged delay in presenting the court with our demands, but these are only excuses." Al Nuaimi said the defence team would appeal the sentence within 25 days. However he said he was sure the verdict would be confirmed. "The appeal court is composed of the same members that condemned Saddam to death. It has already been decided that Saddam has to be sentenced to death," he said. "The United States is manoeuvring this court and is deciding on the final verdict."
"They have justified the measures with our alleged delay in presenting the court with our demands, but these are only excuses." Al Nuaimi said the defence team would appeal the sentence within 25 days. However he said he was sure the verdict would be confirmed. "The appeal court is composed of the same members that condemned Saddam to death. It has already been decided that Saddam has to be sentenced to death," he said. "The United States is manoeuvring this court and is deciding on the final verdict."
