Gitmo Trial #1: the verdict is in

Split verdict in first Guantanamo war-crimes trial
By MIKE MELIA, Associated Press Writer
Wed Aug 6, 2008
GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba
... The five-man, one-woman jury convicted Hamdan on five counts of supporting terrorism, accepting the prosecution argument that Hamdan aided terrorism by becoming a member of al-Qaida in Afghanistan and serving as bin Laden's armed bodyguard and driver while knowing that the al-Qaida leader was plotting attacks against the U.S.

But he was found not guilty on three other counts alleging he knew that his work would be used for terrorism and that he provided surface-to-air missiles to al-Qaida.

He also was cleared of two charges of conspiracy alleging he was part of the al-Qaida effort to attack the United States — the most serious charges, according to deputy chief defense counsel Michael Berrigan.

Berrigan noted the conspiracy charges were the only ones Hamdan originally faced when his case prompted the Supreme Court to halt the tribunals. Prosecutors added the new charges after the Bush administration rewrote the rules.

"The problem is the law was specifically written after the fact to target Mr. Hamdan," said Charles Swift, one of Hamdan's civilian lawyers.

No bill of attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.
U.S. Constitution, Article I, section 9

Why is this so difficult?

The article also notes that

"... The judge allowed secret testimony and hearsay evidence."

... and that during his five (5) years of incarceration, Hamdan has been subjected to "coercive interrogation"... hmmm, I wonder what that could mean.

Our shame.