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Pakistan Defies US, Begins Trial of CIA Contractor

Raymond Davis, US continue to argue he has diplomatic immunity

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 25, 2011 11:04 AM CST

(Newser) – Pakistan held a preliminary hearing in the murder trial of Raymond Davis today inside the jail where the American is being held, ABC News reports. But Davis, a US embassy worker and CIA contractor, refused to sign a list of the charges against him, instead presenting the judge with a petition saying he had diplomatic immunity, according to a US official and an attorney who was present.

The hearing was held in the jail for security reasons; Davis is so controversial in Pakistan that dogs taste his food for poison and his guards have had their guns taken away. Davis has consistently argued that he has diplomatic immunity, and refused to answer police questions (see video). Pakistan has vowed to address that issue in a separate court proceeding on March 14, Reuters reports. The murder trial, meanwhile, is to proceed on March 3.

Pakistani students rally against an American CIA employee Raymond Allen Davis accused of murdering two Pakistanis in Karachi, Pakistan on Friday, Feb. 25, 2011.
Pakistani students rally against an American CIA employee Raymond Allen Davis accused of murdering two Pakistanis in Karachi, Pakistan on Friday, Feb. 25, 2011.   (AP Photo/Shakil Adil)
Activists of the Pakistani fundamentalist Islamic party Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) torch an effigy of arrested US national Raymond Davis, during a protest rally in Lahore on February 25, 2011.
Activists of the Pakistani fundamentalist Islamic party Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) torch an effigy of arrested US national Raymond Davis, during a protest rally in Lahore on February 25, 2011.   (Getty Images)
In this Jan. 28, 2011, file photo, Pakistani security officials escort Raymond Allen Davis, center, to a local court in Lahore, Pakistan.
In this Jan. 28, 2011, file photo, Pakistani security officials escort Raymond Allen Davis, center, to a local court in Lahore, Pakistan.   (AP Photo/Hamza Ahmed, File)
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Raymond Davis refuses to answer questions.   (ABC News)

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 8 comments
Observer
Feb 25, 2011 6:29 PM CST
This hapless CIA killer needs to be tried for murder. Sorry dude - you fucked up bad - in a very bad place for an American Spy to be caught fucking up. The US needs to kiss his ass goodbye. And not make public waves. There is rule of law in Pakilandistan These English speaking Pashtuns are exercising their sovereign rights you dipshits. They are not defying the US. The US does not own Pakilandistan - the Saudis do. The CIA kills thousands of Pakis with their standing secret mercenary army within their borders. How wrong is that you uninformed American idiots. Learn what our Government is actually doing in Afghaniranistan, then force change upon our murderous out of control Pentagon and Intelligence freaks.
WallyEFunk
Feb 25, 2011 5:57 PM CST
What does the state department say about his status ??
Aitchondo
Feb 25, 2011 12:28 PM CST
We wouldn't buy it, why should Pakistan. Diplomatic immunity? Not a reason to get away with murder. I hope they do to the guy what we do to those who try that in this country. If we can't get them legally, they have accidents or commit suicide. Game over.

 
Raymond Davis

 
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