7 May 2012

Fairness of 9/11 tribunal challenged

3:34 pm on 7 May 2012

Lawyers for five men accused on plotting the 9/11 attacks in the United States have publicly challenged the fairness of the American military tribunal at Guantanamo Bay.

On Saturday, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four others accused of plotting with him, were formally charged with terrorism, hijacking, conspiracy, and murder. All face the death penalty if convicted.

The BBC reports none of the defendants has yet entered a formal plea.

Their lawyers say the court is censoring evidence of torture while in American custody.

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was repeatedly water-boarded at secret CIA prisons before being brought to Guantanamo.

Lawyer David Nevin said on Sunday that "everything is being done to prevent this (tribunal) from being fair".

The tribunal will reconvene in June.