Saddam Judge: No More Defense Witnesses

Saddam Judge: No More Defense Witnesses


Tuesday June 13, 2006 3:46 PM

AP Photo JLS101

By SINAN SALAHEDDIN

Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - The chief judge declared an end to hearing defense witnesses
in Saddam Hussein's trial Tuesday and said the prosecution will present its closing
argument next week.

The declaration came despite complaints by the defense team that it has not had
the freedom to properly present its case and that many of its motions were not ruled
on by chief judge Raouf Abdel-Rahman in the nearly eight-month-old trial.

"For your client alone, you've presented 26 witnesses. If that's not enough to present
your case, then 100 won't work," Abdel-Rahman told defense lawyer Khamis al-Obeidi,
who insisted he still had "effective and useful" witnesses to call.

"I've finished hearing witnesses," Abdel-Rahman said. "We have heard your witnesses,
we've listened to every word. God willing, it will all end fine."