ABC Frets Over Saddam Trial Procedures,
He Lacks "Legal Counsel"
Saddam Hussein the victim of lack of legal counsel. ABC led Sunday's World News Tonight with a look, one year after the capture of Saddam Hussein, at delays in his trial. Reporter Jim Sciutto highlighted how "critics point to several failures, that Saddam has not yet been allowed to meet with a lawyer, that the trial will permit testimony obtained under torture" and that evidence has not been "properly preserved or recorded." Sciutto stressed how "both the United Nations and Human Rights Watch have expressed doubts the trial will meet international standards." Sciutto concluded by returning to Hussein's plight without a lawyer: "Iraqi officials now say the trial will begin, at the very earliest, after the scheduled January elections, as Saddam waits in his cell, without charge or legal counsel."
Anchor Terry Moran led his December 12 newscast, as corrected against the closed-captioning by the MRC's Jessica Anderson:
"The thirst for justice in Iraq is not easy to quench. Tomorrow marks one year since U.S. forces captured Saddam Hussein hiding in a hole. But today his trial for genocide and war crimes has not yet begun and the violent insurgency he still inspires rages on. Since Saddam was captured, the rate of U.S. casualties has actually increased -- 827 U.S. troops have been killed in the past year, including two this weekend. ABC's Jim Sciutto reports for us tonight on the problems in the case of Iraq versus Saddam Hussein."
Sciutto began: "One year after his capture, Saddam Hussein's trial for war crimes, considered the most important since Nuremburg, has yet to hear a single world of testimony. American lawyers who are training the Iraqi judges say they need time."
Professor Michael Scharf, Case Western Reserve law school: "They haven't been just sitting on their hands. They've been out getting evidence. They've been making sure that the judges are trained."
Sciutto, over video of dead bodies: "They are building a case for genocide and mass murder, including the gassing of 5,000 Kurds in 1988. But critics point to several failures, [on screen over video of Hussein at his court appearance earlier this year: "Saddam Yet to Meet with Lawyer"] that Saddam has not yet been allowed to meet with a lawyer, that the trial will permit testimony obtained under torture, and that much of the evidence from mass grave sites was not properly preserved or recorded. Both the United Nations and Human Rights Watch have expressed doubts the trial will meet international standards."
Richard Dicker, Human Rights Watch: "It needs to be done in a way that is consistent with basic standards of fairness, regardless of how ugly and horrific the crimes of which he is accused may be."
Sciutto, in London: "The Iraqi judges taking part in the tribunal were taken here to London for training. Their trip included a stop at London's Old Bailey, its criminal court, to observe trials in action. A British judge who worked with them found serious shortcomings in their ability to prosecute Saddam."
Judge Geoffrey Robertson: "They've had no kind of experience in dealing with the issues that arise in international law crimes, like genocide and mass murder."
Sciutto concluded: "Iraqi officials now say the trial will begin, at the very earliest, after the scheduled January elections, as Saddam waits in his cell, without charge or legal counsel."
But still a lot better of than a lot of Iraqis under his rule.
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