A Yemeni national which the U.S. government says ran an al-Qaida terrorist training camp where two of the Sept. 11 hijackers trained says the prosecution should let him view classified evidence, Reuters reported.
Walid bin Attash said Thursday he wants access to classifed evidence because he says it would be safer in his hands than in the hands of the FBI or CIA should he be executed for his crimes.
Bin Attash addressed a judge at the military tribunal at Guantanamo Bay , Cuba, Marine Col. Ralph Kohlmann, questioning the validity of the trial procedures.
“As a judge appointed by the American government … do you think this is a just and fair trial?” he asked.
Kohlmann had requested the hearings to decide whether or not coerced testimony or underrepresented clients could be sentenced to death.
The judge did not answer the query, saying it was not within his authority to offer an opion on the matter. He reminded bin Attash that if he continued to act as his own attorney, however, he would not be allowed access to classified or otherwise sensitive material.
Bin Attash responded politely, saying, “If I am going to receive the death sentence this evidence will go with me. It will be better protected than in the hands of the FBI or the CIA.”
Bin Attash along with Ramzi bin al-Shibh and several other alleged al-Qaida members are held on suspicion they played a role in the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States. Each men faces 2,973 counts of murder for each person killed in the attacks.
A hearing for bin al-Shibh was postponed while his mental capacity to face trial was determined.
