Another defence lawyer for Saddam murdered

Khamis al-Obeidi, one of the main lawyers defending Saddam Hussein was abducted and murdered earlier this week. He is the third defence lawyer murdered since the commencement of the trial.

Al-Obeidi complained in an interview with the BBC after two of his colleagues were shot (one killed) that the trial lawyers had to organise their own personal protection.

I have absolutely no faith in the show trial. Even if Saddam is found guilty of his “crimes”, there is no meaning without justice.

From: BBC News

Saddam defence lawyer shot dead (excerpt)

...Khamis al-Obeidi's body was found dumped in the capital, Baghdad, hours after he was abducted from his home.

Defence lawyers have frequently complained that they have not been given enough protection, calling the trial's fairness into question.

Two other defence lawyers were murdered last year in the early stages of the trial, which is set to end next month...

...Mr Obeidi was abducted from his home in Baghdad's northern Adhamiya district at about 0700 local time (0300 GMT) by men wearing police uniforms.

Police said Mr Obeidi's body was found with several bullet wounds near the Shia district of Sadr City...

...In a BBC interview after one of his colleagues was killed last year, Mr Obeidi strongly denounced what he called the "assassination", and complained that the trial lawyers mostly had to organise their own personal protection.

Another lawyer on Saddam's defence team, Bushra al-Khalil, blamed US forces for Mr Obeidi's death, saying they had changed security arrangements for the lawyers, putting their lives at risk...

...Mr Obeidi was in court on Monday to hear the prosecution team make its closing arguments.

The prosecutors called for Saddam Hussein and two of his seven co-defendants to be put to death for war crimes...

...The trial has so far lasted eight months and has been criticised by some international legal experts.

Some said the defence had been given a disproportionately short period to present its witnesses...