GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA - Expressing frustration with delays in a war crimes case, a military prosecutor urged a judge Friday to schedule a trial in one of the most closely watched of the Guantanamo cases.
"There are real victims in this case" who are awaiting justice, said the prosecutor, Marine Maj. Jeffrey Groharing. He was referring to the widow and children of Sgt. First Class Christopher Speer, who prosecutors say was fatally wounded in Afghanistan by the detainee in the case, Omar Ahmed Khadr.
The prosecution focus on the victims of a killing was a reversal of the more familiar Guantanamo argument that detainees are hurt by delays in proceedings here.
In his comments to the judge, Groharing urged the judge to set a date for the trial, "so we can try this case before a military commission, not before the media and not before a foreign government."
The military judge, Col. Peter Brownback III, declined to set a date for the trial, which had been scheduled to begin May 5. Instead, Brownback has set May 8 for a continuation of arguments on numerous issues that must be addressed before a trial can begin.
In all, 14 Guantanamo detainees now face charges, including six charged with the Sept. 11 attacks. The Khadr case is one of only two that have been expected to reach trial in coming months.
NEW YORK TIMES
