http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/11/05/dujail.saddam/index.html Adjust font size: Decrease fontDecrease font Enlarge fontEnlarge font BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- The Iraqi High Tribunal on Sunday cleared one of the eight defendants in the Dujail case. Mohammed Azzawi Ali, a former Dujail Baath Party official, was exonerated because, the court said, there was insufficient evidence against him. The court has begun its session where it is issuing verdicts and sentences for Saddam Hussein and seven co-defendants in the Dujail case. The defendants were filing into the courtroom to receive their sentences from a five-judge panel. Defense attorney Ramsey Clark was also in court, but he was soon ousted by judges. The court asked Clark to leave, saying he had come here from America to mock the Iraqi people and this court. Hussein could be sentenced to death by hanging for his role in a brutal crackdown nearly 25 years ago in Dujail -- the once obscure Iraqi town that is now a symbol of his regime's cruelty. The tribunal meeting in Baghdad to render verdicts for the co-defendants for their roles in a widescale, systematic attack on the Shiite town after someone tried to assassinate Hussein during a visit on July 8, 1982. The prosecution is seeking the death penalty for the former dictator and two other defendants -- Barzan Hassan, Hussein's half-brother and former head of the intelligence agency, and Taha Yassin Ramadan, a former member of Hussein's Revolutionary Command Council. (Watch scenes from Dujail crackdown, Baghdad preparations -- 3:20 Video) The tribunal is meeting amid heavy security and sweeping curfews in Baghdad and elsewhere, as authorities brace for violent reactions to the verdicts. (Full story) This chapter of the much-criticized trial, which began in October 2005, comes nearly three years after U.S.-led forces plucked Hussein out of hiding and a few days before U.S. midterm elections on November 7. Automatic appeals Court and government officials painted a picture for reporters of what might unfold on Sunday. Because the judgments could amount to hundreds of pages, the judges may read summarized versions. It is expected that the lower-ranking defendants will be dealt with before Hussein. Reaching a verdict and sentence requires a majority vote among the five judges, and it is up to the trial's chief judge whether to allow defendants and their attorneys to speak. If a defendant is found guilty, he can appeal. But the appeals process is dependent on the sentence. A sentence of life imprisonment or death allows for an automatic appeal. There is no limit on how long the appellate judges have to review the case file, but the statute states that a death sentence should be carried out within 30 days after all appeals are exhausted. Outbursts and walkouts The Dujail trial, the first in what is a series of proceedings against former regime officials, began October 19, 2005, and ended July 27. It was a turbulent courtroom battle witnessed on TV across the globe. It was marked by outbursts and harangues from Hussein and his co-defendants, lawyer walkouts, much-criticized court actions, and complaints from lawyers about poor security. There were grave concerns about security for legal teams and their families; three defense lawyers were killed. (Full story) Witness testimony and prosecutors got their case across, however. According to court documents, the military, political and security apparatus in Iraq and Dujail killed, arrested, detained and tortured men, women and children in the town. Homes were demolished and orchards were razed. The Revolutionary Court sentenced 148 males to death, with Saddam's signature ratifying the order. But there were other deaths as well -- nine people were killed during the destruction of orchards, and many of the 399 people who had been detained were either killed or remain missing. Hussein, Hassan and Ramadan are charged with willful killing, deportation or forcible transfer of population; imprisonment or other severe deprivation of physical liberty in violation of fundamental norms of law; torture; enforced disappearance of persons, and other inhumane acts of a similar character intentionally causing great suffering; or serious injury to the body or to the mental or physical health. The prosecution is leaving the verdict and sentencing of Awad Hamad al-Bandar, the head of the Revolutionary Court, to the court's discretion. He is charged with willful killing by issuing the death sentences for the 148 people. The remaining defendants are lower-level Baath Party officials from Dujail, who were charged with informing on Dujail residents who later died in prison or were sentenced to death. They are Abdullah Kadhem Ruwaid, Ali Dayem Ali, Mohammed Azzawi Ali, and Mizher Abdullah Ruwaid. The prosecution wanted the charges against Mohammed Azzawi Ali dropped, and leniency for the others. wonder how this will affect iraq's internal turmoils.
Glad that he was found guilty (though that hardly seemed to be in question), but sad that he was sentenced to death (because I don't support the death penalty).
I think that it was clear from the moment that Saddam was captured that he would be executed. It was only a matter of time. I'm glad that they went through the due process and a proper trial. It sets a good precedent for such events in the future. Saddam deserves to die. I believe that death penalty is necessary only under some extreme circumstances, and this is one of them. The only concern I have is that the execution of Saddam could lead to a wave of violence in Iraq.
I don't know whether or not I agree with the death penalty, but if anyone deserves I don't mind seeing Saddam get sentenced to death.
this is at least as important as gay preachers... i hope they televise it- my only regret is that it won't be a beheading.
Love that compassionate conservatism. The Bush junta has been whining for weeks that the escalation of violence in Iraq was timed to the elections. But of course this is just a matter of coincidence. Two days before the election. How convenient.
This is great news. I'm just glad it's by hanging, and not by leathal injection. My only hope is that his head doesn't snap killing him instantly.
So now the sunday morning news cycle's lead is "the verdict" instead of the elections and how bad the republicans are going to get creamed. Heck of a job Karl!
Yes. He should not get the death penalty. He should have gone through rehab and release back into society. Good riddance, Saddam you piece of crap.
Does anybody else get the feeling that when our kids read about this in their history textbooks they're going to think.. "Wow.. they actually hung somebody in the year 2007?" I figured it would be a firing squad.
Yeah, I don't care who it is - no US backed court should sentence anyone to hang. It is too archaic and brutal. I don't know how long the appeal will take but I wonder if he will start saying crazy things on order to ateempt to save himself.
Yes, because those are the only two options. There is nothing in between. Either someone is killed for crimes, or they are released. There is no other way.
I wonder if a democratic elected congress would listen to a Saddam appeal to prevent him from getting the dealth penalty? This would be an excellent selling point to get republicans out to vote who didn't plan to before.
I'm not arguing the stance that he deserves the death penalty. While I am not in favor of it, I can't say that I too upset by it. I was only commenting because it seems as if anyone who doesn't want the death penalty wants him to be released back into society.
If you think Iraq is violent now wait until they hang him. Major civil war will erupt between the Shi'ites and the Sunnis.
Woodward talks about this in his new book. 2006 was a cakewalk compared to what will happen in Iraq if Saddam is executed.
