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Bin Laden driver given 66 months | Bin Laden driver given 66 months |
(30 minutes later) | |
Osama Bin Laden's former driver has been sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison at the first US military trial in Guantanamo Bay. | Osama Bin Laden's former driver has been sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison at the first US military trial in Guantanamo Bay. |
Salim Hamdan was convicted on Wednesday of supporting terrorism, but acquitted of conspiracy to murder. | Salim Hamdan was convicted on Wednesday of supporting terrorism, but acquitted of conspiracy to murder. |
Prosecutors had demanded a sentence of not less than 30 years. | |
On time served Hamdan could be released in five months but the Pentagon has said he will still be retained as an "enemy combatant". | |
The US has always argued it can detain such people indefinitely, as long as its so-called war on terror continues. | |
The Pentagon said Hamdan would serve his sentence and then be eligible for review. | |
Regret | Regret |
The BBC's Kim Ghattas at the trial says the sentence is a dramatic snub to the Bush administration and came after just one-and-a-half hours of deliberation. | |
The jury of six US military officers, not the judge, imposed the sentence under the tribunal rules. | The jury of six US military officers, not the judge, imposed the sentence under the tribunal rules. |
"It is my duty as president [of the jury] to inform you that this military commission sentences you to be confined for 66 months," a juror told Hamdan. | "It is my duty as president [of the jury] to inform you that this military commission sentences you to be confined for 66 months," a juror told Hamdan. |
HAMDAN CHARGES Conspiracy: Not guilty of two counts of conspiring with al-Qaeda to attack civilians, destroy property and commit murderProviding support for terrorism: Guilty on five counts, including being the driver and bodyguard for Osama Bin Laden, a man he knew to be the leader of a terrorist group. Not guilty on three other counts Profile: Salim HamdanTimeline: Al-Qaeda | |
Our correspondent says Hamdan looked nervous as he walked in for sentencing but after hearing it, he told jurors: "I would like to apologise one more time to all the members and I would like to thank you for what you have done for me." | Our correspondent says Hamdan looked nervous as he walked in for sentencing but after hearing it, he told jurors: "I would like to apologise one more time to all the members and I would like to thank you for what you have done for me." |
The judge said he hoped Hamdan, a Yemeni, would one day be able to return to his wife and his country. | |
Hamdan, who is aged about 40, smiled as he left court and said thank you to those in the room. | Hamdan, who is aged about 40, smiled as he left court and said thank you to those in the room. |
After the sentence, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said: "He will serve out the rest of his sentence. At that time he will still be considered an enemy combatant. | |
"But he will be eligible for review by an Administrative Review Board." | |
The boards decide annually on the threat posed by detainees and the possibility of their transfer or release. | |
The White House had earlier said the trial was "fair". | |
The defence is still likely to go ahead with the appeal it announced on Wednesday. | |
Rights groups have condemned the tribunal system. Amnesty International said it was "fundamentally flawed" and should be abandoned. | |
'Worked for wages' | |
In his earlier plea for leniency to the jury, Hamdan said in a prepared statement: "It's true there are work opportunities in Yemen, but not at the level I needed after I got married and not to the level of ambitions that I had in my future." | |
He said he regretted the loss of "innocent lives". | He said he regretted the loss of "innocent lives". |
Hamdan had admitted working for Bin Laden in Afghanistan from 1997 to 2001 for $200 (£99) a month, but said he worked for wages, not to wage war on the US. | Hamdan had admitted working for Bin Laden in Afghanistan from 1997 to 2001 for $200 (£99) a month, but said he worked for wages, not to wage war on the US. |
About 270 suspects remain in detention in Guantanamo Bay. | About 270 suspects remain in detention in Guantanamo Bay. |
Among the dozens of other inmates due to be tried there in the coming months are men accused of plotting the 9/11 attacks. | Among the dozens of other inmates due to be tried there in the coming months are men accused of plotting the 9/11 attacks. |