Free Republic

Elderly man found beaten to death By: Shari Small A 13-year old boy has been charged with the first murder of the year in San Luis Obispo, after investigators say the teenager beat 87-year old Jerry O'Malley to death over the weekend. As police continue their investigation, a teenager who lives across the street from O'Malley's mobile home says the 13-year old boy accused of the murder shared with her every detail of the crime. "He went through his pockets and got his money and took out his credit card and car key," says Viviana Cordova. Cordova, who is also...

BAGHDAD, Iraq, Dec 14, 2003 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- The interim Iraqi government said Sunday it wants to try Saddam Hussein before a special tribunal, but a human rights group voiced deep concern about the legitimacy of the newly established panel. The United States reserved judgment. Iraq's new leaders want Saddam to face the tribunal they established last week specifically to hear cases involving leading members of the Saddam regime accused of genocide and other crimes against humanity. "We will deal with Saddam Hussein," said Adnan Pachachi, a member of the 25-seat interim Governing Council. "He was an unjust...

SEATTLE (AP) -- James Ujaama, the American Muslim accused of backing al-Qaida, pleaded guilty Monday to conspiring to provide cash, computers and fighters to the Taliban, the former Afghan rulers who sheltered Osama bin Laden. Ujaama pleaded guilty to a single felony count in an appearance before U.S. District Judge Barbara Rothstein, said John Hartingh, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office. Other charges were dropped, including one accusing Ujaama of plotting to set up a terrorist camp in Oregon. Ujaama made a brief statement, saying he accepted responsibility for his actions and knew they were wrong. Ujaama said he...

US Supreme Court Ruling Will Remove 800 From Death Row6-25-2 (AFP) - The US Supreme Court ruled that only a jury may impose the death penalty, a landmark decision that could affect hundreds of condemned prisoners. The 7-2 ruling Monday in the case of Timothy Ring of Arizona puts in limbo death sentences against some 800 inmates and will force changes in the death penalty law in nine states where judges have been allowed to impose the sentence: Florida, Arizona, Idaho, Colorado, Montana, Alabama, Indiana, Delaware and Nebraska. The justices found that the US Constitution's Sixth Amendment guarantee of a...