Final Day 9/11 pre trial hearings, Oct. 19, 2012

Today ended a week of pretrial hearings for the military commissions 9/11 trial. The five accused opted to not attend, so I sketched that scene first; empty chairs where the detainees sit and the Commander testifying under question from Mr. Swann  that they did indeed choose to not attend. The rest of the day's sketches were individual sketches of several motions being brought to the table. We head out early in the morning tomorrow, with some opting to stay on for USS Cole/Nashiri hearings next week. No sketches, so I'm homeward bound.

Day 4 9/11 pre trial hearings Guantanamo

The fourth day in court KSM once again showed up in his vest; a total of three detainees attended.
I tried doing a two-page drawing so you have a panoramic view of the court scene. It kind of works.
Off to final day of pretrial today.

Day 3 9/11 pre trial hearings, Guantanamo Bay

Third day into the pretrial hearings started out with just one detainee attending: KSM's nephew Ammar al baluchi. Victim family members spoke with me and I drew them in the first sketch of the day while ACLU lawyer Hima Shariz spoke. Shortly into the session, it was announced that KSM had indeed decided he wanted to attend; he'd changed his mind earlier and was on premises but not in court, a disappointment to all who had hoped to see him in the camoflauge vest approved by Judge Pohl just yesterday as a garment he could wear to court.

KSM was escorted in, and I did my best to capture him in that vest as well as during his verbal exchange with Judge Pohl- a surprising allowance, and not to happen again per Pohl's follow up.

Day 2 9/11 pre trial hearings in Guantanamo

Finished the second day in court here in Guantanamo. Only two of the five charged were at today's hearing; Ramzi bin al Shibh and Walid bin attash. Today we also heard from ACLU lawyer Hima Shamsi and civilian lawyer David Schulz. With the recent ruling allowing KSM to wear a certain article of clothing it's suspected he'll be in court tomorrow.

Guantanamo 9/11 pre trial hearings: day one

Back in Guantanamo sketching the 9-11 pre-trial hearings. Began the day in court and
then spent the afternoon sketching from a split-screet monitor so I could get different angles. The detainees were very involved this time as opposed to the arraignment.
More to come tomorrow- hearings going on all week. Plenty of stories- here's a few links for fun:
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/world/americas/article3569301.ece
http://www.miamiherald.com/guantanamo/
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/1271742--9-11-trial-hearing-tackles-how-much-of-cia-secrets-can-be-made-public