Evidence Gained Through Using Torture OK, US Officials Say
Sunday, December 5, 2004 at 02:00AM
TheSpook
Evidence gained by torture can be used by
the U.S. military in deciding whether to imprison a foreigner
indefinitely at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as an enemy combatant, the
government says. Statements produced under torture have been
inadmissible in U.S. courts for about 70 years. But the U.S. military
panels reviewing the detention of 550 foreigners as enemy combatants at
the U.S. naval base in Cuba are allowed to use such evidence, Principal
Deputy Associate Attorney General Brian Boyle acknowledged at a U.S.
District Court hearing Thursday. Some of the prisoners have filed
lawsuits challenging their detention without charges for up to three
years so far. At the hearing, Boyle urged District Judge Richard J.
Leon to throw their cases out.Some of the prisoners have filed lawsuits
challenging their detention without charges for up to three years so
far. At the hearing, Boyle urged District Judge Richard J. Leon to
throw their cases out. Attorneys for the prisoners argued that some
were held solely on evidence gained by torture, which they said
violated fundamental fairness and U.S. due process standards. But Boyle
argued in a similar hearing Wednesday that the detainees "have no
constitutional rights enforceable in this court." [more]
Article originally appeared on (http://brownwatch.com/).
See website for complete article licensing information.