Lt. col. quits as prosecutor in Gitmo case

[unhappycamper]

Lt. col. quits as prosecutor in Gitmo case
By Mike Melia - The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Sep 25, 2008 5:54:47 EDT

GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba — A U.S. military prosecutor at Guantanamo Bay has quit because his office suppressed evidence that could clear a young Afghan detainee of war crimes charges, defense lawyers said Wednesday.

The prosecutor, Army Lt. Col. Darrel Vandeveld, is now supporting a defense bid to dismiss the charges against Mohammed Jawad, according to Michael Berrigan, the deputy chief defense counsel for the Guantanamo tribunals.

The chief prosecutor, Army Col. Lawrence Morris, denied that his office withheld evidence and said Vandeveld told him he was leaving his post for “personal reasons.”

“All you have is someone who is disappointed because his superiors didn’t see the wisdom of his recommendation in a case,” Morris told reporters.

Jawad, who was captured in Afghanistan when he was 16 or 17, is accused of throwing a grenade that wounded two American soldiers and their interpreter in December 2002. He faces a maximum life sentence at a trial scheduled to begin in December.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/09/ap_gitmo_prosecutor_092408/%2e

[varkam]

1. Prosecutorial misconduct at Gitmo? Color me shocked.

Why, oh why, have we not shut that place down yet?

[Demit]

2. There are men of honor left. And Col. Morris isn't one of them.