Trial of suspects in 3 soldier deaths delayed

[unhappycamper]

Trial of suspects in 3 soldier deaths delayed
By Kim Gamel - The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Oct 16, 2008 13:06:11 EDT

BAGHDAD — Three suspected al-Qaida in Iraq insurgents stood in the wooden dock, accused in the grisly 2006 killings of three U.S. soldiers south of Baghdad — one of the most brazen attacks against American forces since the war began.

The suspects, who had all been in prison at least one year, finally had their day in court Wednesday, although it was cut short when the panel of three judges granted a defense motion to postpone the trial until Oct. 28.

Ibrahim al-Qaraghuli, Walid al-Kartani and Kazim al-Zubaie — who could face the death penalty if convicted — were the first to face court proceedings in the deaths of the three Americans.

The defendants were Iraqis and the victims all American, but the case cast a spotlight on efforts to reform Iraq’s justice system even as negotiators have reportedly agreed that American troops could face trial before Iraqi courts as part of a new U.S.-Iraqi security agreement.

It also raised new details about the June 16, 2006, ambush, which was one of the worst to target U.S. forces in Iraq and came during a time of intense fighting in the Sunni insurgent stronghold near Youssifyah that was known as the Triangle of Death before a downturn in violence last year.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/10/ap_trialpostponed_101608/%2e