Khadr was arrested in Afghanistan in July 2002, when he was 15 years old
Prosecutors and defence lawyers have been discussing a possible plea bargain for a young Canadian held on terrorism charges at the US military detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, a defence lawyer has said.
As pre-trial hearings in Omar Khadr’s case began, a defence lawyer said there had been negotiations over a deal that would allow Khadr to plead guilty to reduced charges in exchange for leniency.
Barry Coburn said on Tuesday evening that plea discussions were ongoing with prosecutors.
“As of right now there is no deal. We are always open to discussion and we’re hopeful of reaching a resolution,” Coburn told reporters at Guantanamo Bay.
The Toronto Star newspaper, citing unidentified sources, said Khadr had rejected an offer that would have limited his sentence to five more years in custody at Guantanamo or a US prison.
Khadr could be jailed for life if convicted of all five charges against him, which include murder and conspiring with al-Qaeda.
MORE: http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/04/29-2
