Another Saddam trial lawyer is shot dead
A lawyer for one of Saddam Hussein's co-defendants has been shot dead in the Iraqi capital Baghdad while another has been injured. Gunmen are said to have opened fire on a car carrying both men, killing Adel al-Zubeidi and wounding Thamer Hamoud al-Khuzaie.
The attack follows the killing of another defence lawyer last month.
The two lawyers shot on Tuesday were defending Saddam Hussein's half-brother Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti, and former Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan, members of the defence team said.
They were caught in an ambush in the Adil neighbourhood, said fellow lawyer Khamis al-Obeidi.
On 20 October, the day after the start of the high-profile trial in Baghdad, Sadoun Nasouaf al-Janabi was kidnapped by gunmen from his office in Baghdad and later found dead.
The defence team has called for the trial to be moved abroad because of the dangers to those involved .
Other quotes from the Defence team include
"The government bears the responsibility because it is supposed to protect the citizens. "
"If there were a serious investigation into the previous murder of Janabi and the perpetrators had been arrested, we would not see today's crime. "
"We demand a thorough investigation and severe punishment for the criminals behind today's terrorist crime against lawyers who were only doing their job."
The defence team had already threatened not to turn up for the next stage of the trial on 28 November, unless they are given much greater security.
The attack follows the killing of another defence lawyer last month.
The two lawyers shot on Tuesday were defending Saddam Hussein's half-brother Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti, and former Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan, members of the defence team said.
They were caught in an ambush in the Adil neighbourhood, said fellow lawyer Khamis al-Obeidi.
On 20 October, the day after the start of the high-profile trial in Baghdad, Sadoun Nasouaf al-Janabi was kidnapped by gunmen from his office in Baghdad and later found dead.
The defence team has called for the trial to be moved abroad because of the dangers to those involved .
Other quotes from the Defence team include
"The government bears the responsibility because it is supposed to protect the citizens. "
"If there were a serious investigation into the previous murder of Janabi and the perpetrators had been arrested, we would not see today's crime. "
"We demand a thorough investigation and severe punishment for the criminals behind today's terrorist crime against lawyers who were only doing their job."
The defence team had already threatened not to turn up for the next stage of the trial on 28 November, unless they are given much greater security.
so at this rate the defence team will be down to nothing before saddam next appears in court , but of course , surely having two members of the defence murdered in this way shows clearly that Iraq is not yet capable of holding such a trial and should agree to relocate to the Hague
posted by _H_ at 4:28 am
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