Khadr Trial Begins In Guantanamo Bay
Posted August 12, 2010 8:37 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The trial of a Toronto-born man accused of war crimes began Thursday in Guantanamo Bay.
Omar Khadr, 23, allegedly threw a hand grenade that killed U.S. special forces Sgt. Chris Speer in July 2002. Khadr was 15 at the time of the alleged offence. He was captured in Afghanistan shortly after and taken to Guantanamo Bay.
In his opening statements, prosecutor Jeff Groharingt described Khadr as a trained al-Qaida terrorist and murderer.
Defence attorney Lt.-Col. Jon Jackson countered that Khadr was a scared, bleeding and blinded child, and did not throw the grenade.
Khadr confessed to the crime while he was held at the notorious prison.
The United States government will try to convince at least five of the seven jurors that Khadr is guilty. The defence is arguing that Khadr’s confessions were the product of torture.
All of the jurors are U.S. military officers. If they find Khadr guilty, he could be sentenced to life in prison.
