Murder of Hussein Attorney Basis for Mistrial?

Diane Amann, a professor of international law at UC Davis, argues in the Los Angeles Times that the murder of another of Saddam Husseins lawyers should surely be the basis for a mistrial motion. The death of Khamis Ubaidi, 49, was branded an act of intimidation by defense team colleagues who said that the loss of the experienced, level-headed lawyer would deal them a serious setback as Husseins human rights abuse trial moves into final arguments. Defense attorneys described the loss of Ubaidi, who also represented Husseins half brother and former Iraqi intelligence chief Barzan Ibrahim Hasan, as a serious setback that would inflict maximum damage on their case.

Surely there is a basis for a mistrial motion, commented Amann. The failure to afford the most basic security to the defense team no doubt undercuts the ability of defense lawyers and investigators to do their job. It may be too much to expect zealous and effective representation to which every defendant has a rightfrom attorneys who fear for their lives.

The Los Angeles Times/June 22, 2006

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/la-fg-attorney22jun22,1,4298168,full.story

http://www.news.ucdavis.edu/in_the_news/full_text/view_clip.lasso?id=15802