US fury over hook trial(Abu Hamza to be charged in Great Britain)

The Sun (U.K.) ^ | October 16, 2004 | SIMON HUGHES

[Stoat]

Abu Hamza ... will be charged
 

US fury over hook trial

By SIMON HUGHES

 

HOOK-handed cleric Abu Hamza is set to face terrorism charges in Britain next week — a move certain to infuriate the United States.

Washington wants him to face a terror trial over there after issuing an extradition warrant.

But a Whitehall source said yesterday: “Hamza will definitely be charged. It is just a question of what with.”

Crown Prosecution Service lawyers — who consulted and were sanctioned by the Attorney General Lord Goldsmith — have advised police to charge the ranting cleric with offences related to the support of terrorism.

Hamza, being held at Belmarsh Jail in South East London, was arrested on the US extradition warrant in May.

But British authorities — who are also thought to be looking at racial hatred claims against the cleric — are expected to charge him on Monday.

That would mean he must have a trial here FIRST before being handed over to the United States.

Hamza could be extradited before serving a sentence.

The cleric is wanted in America over a hostage-taking drama in Yemen in 1998 in which three Britons died.

He is also accused over the setting up of a terrorist training camp in Oregon and the recruitment of militia to fight Allied forces in Afghanistan.

The Home Office said: “The CPS has decided to prosecute him and it is a matter for the police to press charges.”

Westminster sources last night admitted the decision will have “deeply political ramifications”.

Hamza, 47 — who preached at the Finsbury Park mosque — could be jailed for 100 years if convicted in America.

[Stoat]

As long as he's kept under lock and key until he's dead and gone, I'm not going to worry about it too much. If he's let off then it would truly be a disaster. A quick one-way ticket to Gitmo would be nice, but if our British Friends can put him away forever, it might send a message to his followers.

[LiberalBassTurds]

The cleric is wanted in America over a hostage-taking drama in Yemen in 1998 in which three Britons died.

Something odd here unless it's just bad reporting... Why don't the Brits want him for that too? Charging him with "racial hatred claims?"

[Stoat]

"But British authorities — who are also thought to be looking at racial hatred claims against the cleric"

I think that they key word here is "also". In addition, 'racial hatred' charges may well be incredibly severe in Great Britain....I know they are in Canada. Whatever he's charged with, I hope that it won't cost the British taxpayer too much money(although I fear that it will) and I hope that he'll never breathe free again. He's absolute scum.

[LiberalBassTurds]

Could very well be the case Stoat. I too hope they throw away the key on this POS.

[Hitlerys uterus]

"...a move certain to infuriate the United States."

Some fed prosecuter is getting his toes stepped on. This animal is out of the race for good. That's what counts.

[Stateline]

Captian Hook???....this is no peter pan story...Hang em high.....

[ukbird]

he's already cost us a fortune.

[Stoat]

"he's already cost us a fortune"

That's very true, both in money, blood, and quality of life. Perhaps it would be better, then, for him to be extradited to the U.S. without a British trial? It's an interesting quandry... on the one hand, he has caused Britain to suffer greatly and Britain deserves the opportunity to exact justice from him. Will this trial be so expensive that it will further erode the British public's appetite to wage the war on terror? Will it send a clear message to his followers that fomenting terror on British soil will not be tolerated or will it merely make him a martyr?

On the other hand, the U.S. has valid legal claims against him as well. "The cleric is wanted in America over a hostage-taking drama in Yemen in 1998 in which three Britons died. He is also accused over the setting up of a terrorist training camp in Oregon and the recruitment of militia to fight Allied forces in Afghanistan."

[A Balrog of Morgoth]

If there was ever a fellow who needed to "accidentally" fall out of fourth story window, this is the guy.