No fair trial for Gaddafi son: Aussie lawyer

7 Jul 2012, 8:59 am   -   Source: AP, AFP
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Saif al-Islam. (Getty)

Saif al-Islam. (Getty)

The right to a fair trial of Saif al-Islam, son of Muammar Gaddafi, has been 'irrevocably prejudiced', his ICC lawyer Melinda Taylor said. 

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The right to a fair trial of Saif al-Islam, son of Muammar Gaddafi, has been "irrevocably prejudiced", his International Criminal Court (ICC) lawyer Melinda Taylor said following her release from detention in Libya.

"Irrespective of any issues concerning my own personal conduct, the rights of my client, Mr Saif al-Islam, were irrevocably prejudiced during my visit to Zintan," said Taylor, the Australian citizen who was freed this week after being detained in Libya while visiting Saif on behalf of the ICC.

"It is the position of the defence that these recent events have completely underscored that it will be impossible for Mr Gaddafi to be tried in an independent and impartial manner in Libyan courts," she said on Friday at a press conference in The Hague, two days after her return.

Speaking publicly for the first time since her release on Monday, Taylor said on Friday that her actions in Libya were "consistent with my legal obligations" under court rules.

Taylor and her four colleagues were released on Tuesday after being held in Zintan, southwest of Tripoli, since June 7 after travelling there to help prepare Saif al-Islam's defence.

The Australian lawyer was accused of carrying a pen camera and attempting to give Saif al-Islam, 40, a coded letter from his former right-hand man, Mohammed Ismail, who is wanted by the Libyan authorities.

The other three detained ICC staffers were Taylor's interpreter from Lebanon, Helen Assaf, and two colleagues, Russian Alexander Khodakov and Esteban Peralta Losilla from Spain.

Taylor was released by rebels in the western town of Zintan after the Hague-based court apologised for the incident and pledged to investigate her and three colleagues held with her.

The four were allowed to leave the North African country as part of an agreement between The Hague-based court and the Libyan government amid a dispute about where Saif should be tried.

 

Melinda Taylor , Muammar Gaddafi , ICC

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Your Comments

Fair Trial???

John Opinion - from Albany, 11 months ago

Fair Trial????? What is wrong with him having a trial that others were subject under his father and family regime. I am sure it would be just as fair, even fairer

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