Omar Khadr ‘innocent’ in death of U.S. soldier – Classified photos show Toronto-born Omar Khadr lying buried and hurt in a trench during a firefight in Afghanistan that killed a U.S. commando. His lawyers say that proves he couldn’t have thrown the lethal grenade
In the left photo (1), Omar Khadr is hidden under rubble from a collapsed roof. In the upper corner is an unnamed combatant killed by U.S. forces. In the right photo (2), Khadr is lying face down (body is highlighted), with his head pointing toward the combatant’s body and two bullet wounds in his back.
By Michelle Shephard
National Security Reporter
Guantanamo detainee Omar Khadr was buried face down under rubble, blinded by shrapnel and crippled, at the time the Pentagon alleges he threw a grenade that fatally wounded a U.S. soldier, according to classified photographs and defence documents obtained by the Star.
The pictures, which were taken following a 2002 firefight in Afghanistan and have never been made public, show the then 15-year-old Canadian covered in bricks and mud from the roof of a bombed compound.
The body of an adult fighter – the unnamed man Khadr’s lawyers contend could have thrown the grenade that killed U.S. Sgt. Christopher Speer – lies beside him.
The photographs were part of an 18-page submission presented earlier this year by Khadr’s former military defence team to an Obama administration task force investigating Guantanamo.
While the defence’s argument that it was physically impossible for Khadr to have thrown the grenade first surfaced at a Guantanamo hearing last year, the military judge would not release the photos or declassify the written submissions.
The Pentagon is expected to announce in the next three weeks whether Khadr’s case will be transferred to a Washington, D.C., criminal court, or go before a military commission. The Toronto-born captive had been charged with five war crimes, including murder for Speer’s death, under the Bush administration’s Military Commissions Act. His case was suspended when U.S. President Barack Obama took over the White House and vowed to shut Guantanamo.
But the evidence contained in the defence document raises doubts as to whether Obama’s multi-agency task force would proceed with murder charges against Khadr.
“Omar is actually innocent of the allegation,” write Khadr’s military-appointed lawyers, Cmdr. Walter Ruiz and Michel Paradis, along with his Canadian lawyers, Nathan Whitling and Dennis Edney.
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Tags: Bush Ad, Bush Administration, Canadian citizen, Guantanamo Bay, Obama Administration, Omar, Omar Khadr, Pentagon, Toronto, Torture
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WOW, AMAZING!!This is the best proof that Khadr is innocent? A photo that features two terrorists that you can’t clearly make out any faces?
What would you expect from the recently fired Lt. Keubler et al.Here’s a lawyer who was more interested in being the center of attention and trying his case in the media rather than defending his client…
How’s this for an explanation…Khadr is buried AFTER he threw that grenade (and was subsequently shot by special forces).In Khadr’s pre-trial hearing ,evidence was sworn to whereas Khadr admitted to throwing that grenade and was pleased that an American was killed…
And the TORONTO STAR says that this blurry photograph proves Khadr to be innocent ….WOW, WHAT A LEAP OF LOGIC!
Khadr will find out shortly WHERE he will face trial ,not IF he will face trial.As pointed out in the STAR article,the U.S. attorneys have more damning evidence with which to convict Khadr.I hope that DENNIS EDNEY is prepared to present his case to a military OR civilian court instead of trying his case in the media!
The STAR also states that the government has wasted $1.3 million dollars prosecuting Khadr.I consider this to be money well spent and look forward to more money being spent prosecuting Khadr.
Omar is actually innocent of the allegation,” write Khadr’s military-appointed lawyers, Cmdr. Walter Ruiz and Michel Paradis, along with his Canadian lawyers, Nathan Whitling and Dennis Edney.
Hmmm.. very pathetic!