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Court Throws Out bin Laden Driver's Conviction

Salim Ahmed Hamdan's activities weren't a war crime at the time: US court

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 16, 2012 10:53 AM CDT

(Newser) – Osama bin Laden's former driver is off the hook in his conviction for supporting terrorism. A federal appeals court in Washington has overturned Salim Ahmed Hamdan's conviction in a 3-0 ruling, the AP reports. Its reasoning: When Hamdan was involved in the activities that landed the conviction, material support for terrorism wasn't a war crime under international law. "If the government wanted to charge Hamdan with aiding and abetting terrorism or some other war crime that was sufficiently rooted in the international law of war at the time of Hamdan's conduct, it should have done so," a judge wrote. The former Guantanamo prisoner has long since been freed and returned to Yemen, where he's said to have a new job behind the wheel—as a taxi driver.

In this undated file photo, Salim Ahmed Hamdan, a former driver for Osama bin Laden, is seen at unknown location.
In this undated file photo, Salim Ahmed Hamdan, a former driver for Osama bin Laden, is seen at unknown location.   (AP Photo/Photo courtesy of Prof. Neal Katyal)
In this Thursday, July 24, 2008 file photo of a courtroom sketch reviewed by the US Military, defendant Salim Ahmed Hamdan, left, watches during his trial at Guantanamo Bay.
In this Thursday, July 24, 2008 file photo of a courtroom sketch reviewed by the US Military, defendant Salim Ahmed Hamdan, left, watches during his trial at Guantanamo Bay.   (AP Photo/Janet Hamlin, Pool)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 4 comments
Rammrodd
Oct 16, 2012 12:10 PM CDT
That good. He ain't did nothing nohow.
___
Oct 16, 2012 12:02 PM CDT
Judging by the artist's courtroom sketch, he was still taking calls for rides...?
Bosda
Oct 16, 2012 12:02 PM CDT
About damn time.
 

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