Motion denied to free Khadr because of age – Ruling rejects argument that Canadian was a child soldier when captured in Afghanistan
May 1, 2008
OTTAWA – One of Omar Khadr’s last hopes of avoiding a military tribunal in Guantanamo Bay – the argument that he was a child soldier at the time of his capture – has effectively been crushed.
A U.S. military judge has denied a defence motion to dismiss charges against Mr. Khadr because of his age at the time of his alleged offences.
He was 15 when he was captured after a firefight in Afghanistan in 2002. His Canadian and U.S. defence lawyers – along with myriad human rights and legal groups and Canadian opposition politicians – have said he should be treated as a child soldier and not subjected to the U.S. military commissions system in Guantanamo Bay.
Mr. Khadr faces several charges stemming from the Afghanistan firefight, including murder. Now 21, he faces the prospect of life in prison if convicted.
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