US

Hamdan found guilty on terrorism charge

Article published on the 2008-08-06 Latest update 2008-08-07 10:08 TU

Salim Hamdan in court (artist's impression)

On Wednesday a US military court found Salim Hamdan, the former driver of Osama Bin Laden, guilty of one charge of "providing material support to terrorism while finding him not guilty of the more serious charge of "terrorist conspiracy".

The trial was the first under a special system that is designed to try people suspected of terrorism who have been captured outside the United States and held at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.

Hamdan's sentence has not yet been delivered by the court. He could receive a maximum jail-term of life.

The defence said that it would appeal the verdict on the grounds that it did not believe that Hamdan's role as a driver qualified as "a war crime". They also alleged that Handan gave some evidence presented in the case under coercion.

Hamdan may have recourse to the Appeals Court of the District of Colombia as well as to the US Supreme Court.

The White House said it was "pleased that Salim Hamdan received a fair trial". The Pentagon said it would continue with the trials of 20 more people who are currently detained at Guantanamo Bay