his presence is NOT required...
Posted on 07/24/2006 1:07:44 PM PDT by Marine_Uncle
0723dv-saddam-hospitalized Saddam Hussein's half brother argued with the chief judge Monday and accused a court employee of shaking down a relative for money as the trial entered its final phase without the hospitalized former president.
Barzan Ibrahim, a former intelligence chief, was the only one of the eight defendants in court when the trial resumed after a two-week break to continue hearing final summations.
After summations, the five-judge panel will adjourn to consider a verdict, which could include death by hanging for Saddam and two co-defendants, including Barzan.
Saddam, 69, remained hospitalized Monday, taking nutrition through a feeding tube, court spokesman Raid Juhi said. The tube was inserted Sunday, the 17th day of Saddam's hunger strike. Juhi said Saddam was now in stable condition and would be in court Wednesday when the trial reconvenes.
"His health is not in jeopardy," White House spokesman Tony Snow said Monday in Washington.
Saddam and the seven others have been on trial since Oct. 19 for the deaths of Shiite Muslims in a crackdown on the town of Dujail, which was launched after an assassination attempt against Saddam in 1982.
Barzan had also been refusing food since July 7 to demand better security for defense lawyers, who have boycotted the hearings since last month's killing of Khamis al-Obeidi, the third member of the defense team slain since the trial began.
Despite more than two weeks without food, Barzan appeared no less combative than in previous sessions, when he was sometimes restrained by guards for rowdy behavior.
He told the chief judge, Raouf Abdel-Rahman, that he would not accept a court-appointed attorney and asked for more time to find another lawyer or to persuade the defense team to return.
"I have lawyers, as your honor knows, but they are passing through very difficult and critical times because three of them were killed and one was injured and is still in the hospital," Barzan said.
Abdel-Rahman rejected the request.
"I want to ask you, how long will you and your lawyers continue this game?" the judge asked Barzan. "This game with the court is meant to prolong the trial. ...Regrettably, your lawyers are making speeches and accusations against the court accusing it of being linked with the Americans and the occupation."
The court-appointed attorney then delivered the summation, telling the tribunal there was "not one bit of evidence that proves the involvement of Barzan" in the Dujail crackdown. The lawyer's name was not released, and his voice was altered on the television feed to hide his identity.
Afterward, Barzan was allowed to make a statement. He told the judge he did not take notes during the court-appointed attorney's summation "because I do not consider him as a representative of my case."
He accused an unidentified court employee of extorting $7,500 from his sister-in-law. Abdel-Rahman asked him to present evidence in a writing.
Barzan then began reading a poem about the courage of Baghdad in resisting foreign occupation, but was cut short by Abdel-Rahman.
"You insult Baghdad by saying Baghdad has fallen under the boot of American soldiers," the judge said. "It was the totalitarian and dictatorship regime that fell - not Baghdad."
"You, meaning all of you, from childhood, your hands were soaked with the blood of Iraqis," the judge said. "Enough killing. Enough blood. From childhood your hands are tainted."
Saddam is due to stand trial beginning Aug. 21 in a 1980s crackdown in which an estimated 100,000 Kurds died.
The prosecution has asked for the death penalty against Saddam, Barzan and former Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan. The prosecution suggested one defendant be acquitted and the others receive lesser sentences because they were minor figures in the Dujail crackdown. The prosecution recommendation is not binding.
Starving to death wouldn't be nearly as bad as he deserves.
At least he has more dedication to his hunger strike than Cindy Sheehan.
his presence is NOT required...
This thing is beating out OJ's trial in ridiculous length!
"At least he has more dedication to his hunger strike than Cindy Sheehan."
Right. She probably had a stash of candy bars and cookies nearby.
Did Saddam and Cindy start their hunger strikes at about the same time? I realize Cindy's is/was a FINO (fast in name only), but it appears to be a remarkable coincidence.
Cindy Sheehan....the first person to ever gain weight during a fast. I guess she only fasts between meals.
Don't let him die before we can hang him!
It most certainly is. But in the end if the still resisting Saddamist see their hero is full of holes or has a broken neck hanging in the breeze, perhaps it will have the proper effect.
It will be once sentence is handed down... hee hee heee.
Heh heh, don't tell him but that is liquified pig manure going through the tube that is feeding him!!!!!!!
isn't a feeding tube an "extraordinary Measure?" Terry Schiavo wasn't allowed to have one, and yet this murdering SOB gets force fed.!!!!
He's actually doing "it" the correct way... Got to give him credit for that.
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