Posted on 11/27/2009 8:15:40 PM PST by Free ThinkerNY
WASHINGTON -- When five defendants are brought before a New York federal judge to face charges for the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the first question may be whether some of them are competent to stand trial at all.
Military lawyers for Ramzi Binalshibh, an accused organizer of the 9/11 plot, and Mustafa al-Hawsawi, the conspiracy's alleged paymaster, say their clients have mental disorders that make them unfit for trial, likely caused or exacerbated by years of harsh confinement in Central Intelligence Agency custody.
The issue already has arisen in military-commission proceedings at the military's detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. According to an August ruling by a military judge, prosecutors have made an "apparent concession" that Mr. Binalshibh "suffers from a delusional disorder-persecutory type" disorder. Mr. Binalshibh has been prescribed "a variety of psychotropic medications used to treat schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder, including Haldol, Abilify, risperidone and Ativan," according to commission records.
In October 2008, a military medical board reported Mr. Binalshibh may suffer from "severe mental disease" that could "impair his ability to conduct or cooperate intelligently in his defense."
A military attorney for Mr. Hawsawi, Lt. Cmdr. Gretchen Sosbee, said the military judge ordered a mental evaluation of her client, but its results haven't yet been entered into the record.
It long has been unconstitutional to prosecute people who are unable to understand proceedings against them or assist in their defense, whether in federal court, court-martial or military commission.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
We should have known that these Moose were thoroughly mad.
And the circus begins.
Next: debate over “mentally fit”....
So now what will happen?
Did Obama and Eric Holder think about things like this which could hamper the prosecution?
Obama and Eric Holder were so confident that KSM and the others will be convicted. Well, with insanity pleas and charges that we created their mental conditions, this may not go so smoothly.
For what it’s worth, I know some people more liberal than I who are extremely angry about the decision to try them in a civilian trial. They are supportive of Obama on some other things but are livid about this half-baked decision to try them as civilians.
I know the lunatic fringe liberals are all with Obama on this, but anybody who is not drinking the DU, Daily Kos kool-aid thinks this was a bad decision.
My client’s a nutcase! You can’t try him, your honor! He’s a barking moonbat! Just look at him!
My client has this unusual mental disorder that makes him want to fly planes into buildings, your honor.
Just line em up and let a few patriot soldiers put them and us out of misery!
Better off dead!
The insanity of our so called government continues.
L
If they want to call Muslims criminally insane, I might go for that. The next question will be, what should we then do with the others?
Whats next?
These guys have been given rights of Americans... now the CIA is to blame for their mental state.... they get outta jail free and become “wards” of the government, but at their free will cuzz they sued the Amwrican Govt for damages....
These “trials” are going to show how deranged liberals are. The “creativity” of the defense lawyers will be a sight to behold.
Could turn out to be "A Reach Too Far".
Can we enlarge Guantanamo to hold a billion of them?
“And the circus begins.”
Problem is that the parody of KSM singing “New York, New York”
(by Paul Shanklin on Rush Limbaugh’s show)...probably is about as
accurate predictor of what’s going to happen.
KSM (and his buds) will get acquitted.
And KSM will end up driving a cab in New York, New York.
What case does the government have against them?
KSM was not read his Miranda rights. That means everything he said is inadmissable.
I doubt there was an arrest warrant for KSM.
He’s been denied a lawyer for years.
The witnesses involved include spies (who probably won’t testify for fear of their safety) and soldiers who are starting to look like they might end up in International Court.
Both the President and the AG have already said the guy will be found guilty and executed, which leaves us all wondering how “fair” this trial is going to be.
REMEMBER KSM IS COMPLETELY INNOCENT UNTIL HE IS PROVEN GUILTY.
The Government really doesn’t have much of a case against KSM.
GET READY FOR THIS GUY TO WALK.
This is NO WAY to fight a battle. It’s not even a way to fight a court case! Pretty sad when you consider that Obama comes from the privileged Ivy League....
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.