Judge: Padilla Competent for Trial

[leftchick]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlates...447407,00.html

MIAMI (AP) - A federal judge ruled Wednesday that suspected al-Qaida operative Jose Padilla is competent to stand trial on terrorism support charges, rejecting arguments that he was severely damaged by 3 years of interrogation and isolation in a military brig.

Padilla was in court when U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke announced her decision, but he showed no reaction.

``This defendant clearly has the capacity to assist his attorneys,'' Cooke said just hours after she finished four days of competency hearings.

Defense attorneys and federal prosecutors declined to immediately comment.

Padilla's lawyers had asked Cooke to order that their client be treated for post-traumatic stress disorder, which they contend stems from years of isolation and interrogation while in military custody as a suspected enemy combatant.

Cooke said testimony in the competency hearing showed that Padilla understands ``legal nuances'' of pretrial motions and noted that he had signed a document verifying the truth of allegations made by the defense that he was tortured and mistreated during his years in a Navy brig in Charleston, S.C.

``At some time, the defendant was able to discuss some things with his lawyers,'' Cooke said. ``The defendant's situation is unique. He understands that.''

[leftchick]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlates...447407,00.html

MIAMI (AP) - A federal judge ruled Wednesday that suspected al-Qaida operative Jose Padilla is competent to stand trial on terrorism support charges, rejecting arguments that he was severely damaged by 3 years of interrogation and isolation in a military brig.

Padilla was in court when U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke announced her decision, but he showed no reaction.

``This defendant clearly has the capacity to assist his attorneys,'' Cooke said just hours after she finished four days of competency hearings.

Defense attorneys and federal prosecutors declined to immediately comment.

Padilla's lawyers had asked Cooke to order that their client be treated for post-traumatic stress disorder, which they contend stems from years of isolation and interrogation while in military custody as a suspected enemy combatant.

Cooke said testimony in the competency hearing showed that Padilla understands ``legal nuances'' of pretrial motions and noted that he had signed a document verifying the truth of allegations made by the defense that he was tortured and mistreated during his years in a Navy brig in Charleston, S.C.

``At some time, the defendant was able to discuss some things with his lawyers,'' Cooke said. ``The defendant's situation is unique. He understands that.''

[leftchick]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlates...447407,00.html

MIAMI (AP) - A federal judge ruled Wednesday that suspected al-Qaida operative Jose Padilla is competent to stand trial on terrorism support charges, rejecting arguments that he was severely damaged by 3 years of interrogation and isolation in a military brig.

Padilla was in court when U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke announced her decision, but he showed no reaction.

``This defendant clearly has the capacity to assist his attorneys,'' Cooke said just hours after she finished four days of competency hearings.

Defense attorneys and federal prosecutors declined to immediately comment.

Padilla's lawyers had asked Cooke to order that their client be treated for post-traumatic stress disorder, which they contend stems from years of isolation and interrogation while in military custody as a suspected enemy combatant.

Cooke said testimony in the competency hearing showed that Padilla understands ``legal nuances'' of pretrial motions and noted that he had signed a document verifying the truth of allegations made by the defense that he was tortured and mistreated during his years in a Navy brig in Charleston, S.C.

``At some time, the defendant was able to discuss some things with his lawyers,'' Cooke said. ``The defendant's situation is unique. He understands that.''

[leftchick]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlates...447407,00.html

MIAMI (AP) - A federal judge ruled Wednesday that suspected al-Qaida operative Jose Padilla is competent to stand trial on terrorism support charges, rejecting arguments that he was severely damaged by 3 years of interrogation and isolation in a military brig.

Padilla was in court when U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke announced her decision, but he showed no reaction.

``This defendant clearly has the capacity to assist his attorneys,'' Cooke said just hours after she finished four days of competency hearings.

Defense attorneys and federal prosecutors declined to immediately comment.

Padilla's lawyers had asked Cooke to order that their client be treated for post-traumatic stress disorder, which they contend stems from years of isolation and interrogation while in military custody as a suspected enemy combatant.

Cooke said testimony in the competency hearing showed that Padilla understands ``legal nuances'' of pretrial motions and noted that he had signed a document verifying the truth of allegations made by the defense that he was tortured and mistreated during his years in a Navy brig in Charleston, S.C.

``At some time, the defendant was able to discuss some things with his lawyers,'' Cooke said. ``The defendant's situation is unique. He understands that.''

[leftchick]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlates...447407,00.html

MIAMI (AP) - A federal judge ruled Wednesday that suspected al-Qaida operative Jose Padilla is competent to stand trial on terrorism support charges, rejecting arguments that he was severely damaged by 3 years of interrogation and isolation in a military brig.

Padilla was in court when U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke announced her decision, but he showed no reaction.

``This defendant clearly has the capacity to assist his attorneys,'' Cooke said just hours after she finished four days of competency hearings.

Defense attorneys and federal prosecutors declined to immediately comment.

Padilla's lawyers had asked Cooke to order that their client be treated for post-traumatic stress disorder, which they contend stems from years of isolation and interrogation while in military custody as a suspected enemy combatant.

Cooke said testimony in the competency hearing showed that Padilla understands ``legal nuances'' of pretrial motions and noted that he had signed a document verifying the truth of allegations made by the defense that he was tortured and mistreated during his years in a Navy brig in Charleston, S.C.

``At some time, the defendant was able to discuss some things with his lawyers,'' Cooke said. ``The defendant's situation is unique. He understands that.''

[leftchick]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlates...447407,00.html

MIAMI (AP) - A federal judge ruled Wednesday that suspected al-Qaida operative Jose Padilla is competent to stand trial on terrorism support charges, rejecting arguments that he was severely damaged by 3 years of interrogation and isolation in a military brig.

Padilla was in court when U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke announced her decision, but he showed no reaction.

``This defendant clearly has the capacity to assist his attorneys,'' Cooke said just hours after she finished four days of competency hearings.

Defense attorneys and federal prosecutors declined to immediately comment.

Padilla's lawyers had asked Cooke to order that their client be treated for post-traumatic stress disorder, which they contend stems from years of isolation and interrogation while in military custody as a suspected enemy combatant.

Cooke said testimony in the competency hearing showed that Padilla understands ``legal nuances'' of pretrial motions and noted that he had signed a document verifying the truth of allegations made by the defense that he was tortured and mistreated during his years in a Navy brig in Charleston, S.C.

``At some time, the defendant was able to discuss some things with his lawyers,'' Cooke said. ``The defendant's situation is unique. He understands that.''

[leftchick]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlates...447407,00.html

MIAMI (AP) - A federal judge ruled Wednesday that suspected al-Qaida operative Jose Padilla is competent to stand trial on terrorism support charges, rejecting arguments that he was severely damaged by 3 years of interrogation and isolation in a military brig.

Padilla was in court when U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke announced her decision, but he showed no reaction.

``This defendant clearly has the capacity to assist his attorneys,'' Cooke said just hours after she finished four days of competency hearings.

Defense attorneys and federal prosecutors declined to immediately comment.

Padilla's lawyers had asked Cooke to order that their client be treated for post-traumatic stress disorder, which they contend stems from years of isolation and interrogation while in military custody as a suspected enemy combatant.

Cooke said testimony in the competency hearing showed that Padilla understands ``legal nuances'' of pretrial motions and noted that he had signed a document verifying the truth of allegations made by the defense that he was tortured and mistreated during his years in a Navy brig in Charleston, S.C.

``At some time, the defendant was able to discuss some things with his lawyers,'' Cooke said. ``The defendant's situation is unique. He understands that.''

[leftchick]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlates...447407,00.html

MIAMI (AP) - A federal judge ruled Wednesday that suspected al-Qaida operative Jose Padilla is competent to stand trial on terrorism support charges, rejecting arguments that he was severely damaged by 3 years of interrogation and isolation in a military brig.

Padilla was in court when U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke announced her decision, but he showed no reaction.

``This defendant clearly has the capacity to assist his attorneys,'' Cooke said just hours after she finished four days of competency hearings.

Defense attorneys and federal prosecutors declined to immediately comment.

Padilla's lawyers had asked Cooke to order that their client be treated for post-traumatic stress disorder, which they contend stems from years of isolation and interrogation while in military custody as a suspected enemy combatant.

Cooke said testimony in the competency hearing showed that Padilla understands ``legal nuances'' of pretrial motions and noted that he had signed a document verifying the truth of allegations made by the defense that he was tortured and mistreated during his years in a Navy brig in Charleston, S.C.

``At some time, the defendant was able to discuss some things with his lawyers,'' Cooke said. ``The defendant's situation is unique. He understands that.''

[leftchick]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlates...447407,00.html

MIAMI (AP) - A federal judge ruled Wednesday that suspected al-Qaida operative Jose Padilla is competent to stand trial on terrorism support charges, rejecting arguments that he was severely damaged by 3 years of interrogation and isolation in a military brig.

Padilla was in court when U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke announced her decision, but he showed no reaction.

``This defendant clearly has the capacity to assist his attorneys,'' Cooke said just hours after she finished four days of competency hearings.

Defense attorneys and federal prosecutors declined to immediately comment.

Padilla's lawyers had asked Cooke to order that their client be treated for post-traumatic stress disorder, which they contend stems from years of isolation and interrogation while in military custody as a suspected enemy combatant.

Cooke said testimony in the competency hearing showed that Padilla understands ``legal nuances'' of pretrial motions and noted that he had signed a document verifying the truth of allegations made by the defense that he was tortured and mistreated during his years in a Navy brig in Charleston, S.C.

``At some time, the defendant was able to discuss some things with his lawyers,'' Cooke said. ``The defendant's situation is unique. He understands that.''

[leftchick]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlates...447407,00.html

MIAMI (AP) - A federal judge ruled Wednesday that suspected al-Qaida operative Jose Padilla is competent to stand trial on terrorism support charges, rejecting arguments that he was severely damaged by 3 years of interrogation and isolation in a military brig.

Padilla was in court when U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke announced her decision, but he showed no reaction.

``This defendant clearly has the capacity to assist his attorneys,'' Cooke said just hours after she finished four days of competency hearings.

Defense attorneys and federal prosecutors declined to immediately comment.

Padilla's lawyers had asked Cooke to order that their client be treated for post-traumatic stress disorder, which they contend stems from years of isolation and interrogation while in military custody as a suspected enemy combatant.

Cooke said testimony in the competency hearing showed that Padilla understands ``legal nuances'' of pretrial motions and noted that he had signed a document verifying the truth of allegations made by the defense that he was tortured and mistreated during his years in a Navy brig in Charleston, S.C.

``At some time, the defendant was able to discuss some things with his lawyers,'' Cooke said. ``The defendant's situation is unique. He understands that.''

[leftchick]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlates...447407,00.html

MIAMI (AP) - A federal judge ruled Wednesday that suspected al-Qaida operative Jose Padilla is competent to stand trial on terrorism support charges, rejecting arguments that he was severely damaged by 3 years of interrogation and isolation in a military brig.

Padilla was in court when U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke announced her decision, but he showed no reaction.

``This defendant clearly has the capacity to assist his attorneys,'' Cooke said just hours after she finished four days of competency hearings.

Defense attorneys and federal prosecutors declined to immediately comment.

Padilla's lawyers had asked Cooke to order that their client be treated for post-traumatic stress disorder, which they contend stems from years of isolation and interrogation while in military custody as a suspected enemy combatant.

Cooke said testimony in the competency hearing showed that Padilla understands ``legal nuances'' of pretrial motions and noted that he had signed a document verifying the truth of allegations made by the defense that he was tortured and mistreated during his years in a Navy brig in Charleston, S.C.

``At some time, the defendant was able to discuss some things with his lawyers,'' Cooke said. ``The defendant's situation is unique. He understands that.''

[leftchick]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlates...447407,00.html

MIAMI (AP) - A federal judge ruled Wednesday that suspected al-Qaida operative Jose Padilla is competent to stand trial on terrorism support charges, rejecting arguments that he was severely damaged by 3 years of interrogation and isolation in a military brig.

Padilla was in court when U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke announced her decision, but he showed no reaction.

``This defendant clearly has the capacity to assist his attorneys,'' Cooke said just hours after she finished four days of competency hearings.

Defense attorneys and federal prosecutors declined to immediately comment.

Padilla's lawyers had asked Cooke to order that their client be treated for post-traumatic stress disorder, which they contend stems from years of isolation and interrogation while in military custody as a suspected enemy combatant.

Cooke said testimony in the competency hearing showed that Padilla understands ``legal nuances'' of pretrial motions and noted that he had signed a document verifying the truth of allegations made by the defense that he was tortured and mistreated during his years in a Navy brig in Charleston, S.C.

``At some time, the defendant was able to discuss some things with his lawyers,'' Cooke said. ``The defendant's situation is unique. He understands that.''

[leftchick]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlates...447407,00.html

MIAMI (AP) - A federal judge ruled Wednesday that suspected al-Qaida operative Jose Padilla is competent to stand trial on terrorism support charges, rejecting arguments that he was severely damaged by 3 years of interrogation and isolation in a military brig.

Padilla was in court when U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke announced her decision, but he showed no reaction.

``This defendant clearly has the capacity to assist his attorneys,'' Cooke said just hours after she finished four days of competency hearings.

Defense attorneys and federal prosecutors declined to immediately comment.

Padilla's lawyers had asked Cooke to order that their client be treated for post-traumatic stress disorder, which they contend stems from years of isolation and interrogation while in military custody as a suspected enemy combatant.

Cooke said testimony in the competency hearing showed that Padilla understands ``legal nuances'' of pretrial motions and noted that he had signed a document verifying the truth of allegations made by the defense that he was tortured and mistreated during his years in a Navy brig in Charleston, S.C.

``At some time, the defendant was able to discuss some things with his lawyers,'' Cooke said. ``The defendant's situation is unique. He understands that.''

[leftchick]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlates...447407,00.html

MIAMI (AP) - A federal judge ruled Wednesday that suspected al-Qaida operative Jose Padilla is competent to stand trial on terrorism support charges, rejecting arguments that he was severely damaged by 3 years of interrogation and isolation in a military brig.

Padilla was in court when U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke announced her decision, but he showed no reaction.

``This defendant clearly has the capacity to assist his attorneys,'' Cooke said just hours after she finished four days of competency hearings.

Defense attorneys and federal prosecutors declined to immediately comment.

Padilla's lawyers had asked Cooke to order that their client be treated for post-traumatic stress disorder, which they contend stems from years of isolation and interrogation while in military custody as a suspected enemy combatant.

Cooke said testimony in the competency hearing showed that Padilla understands ``legal nuances'' of pretrial motions and noted that he had signed a document verifying the truth of allegations made by the defense that he was tortured and mistreated during his years in a Navy brig in Charleston, S.C.

``At some time, the defendant was able to discuss some things with his lawyers,'' Cooke said. ``The defendant's situation is unique. He understands that.''