GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba — Confessed Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed offered Monday to help persuade one of his co-defendants to leave his prison cell for a pretrial hearing.
Mohammed volunteered to reach out to Ramzi Binalshibh after the military judge overseeing the case suggested that he might offer a separate trial for Binalshibh, who has refused to appear with his four co-defendants in America’s most important war-crimes trial since the close of World War II.
Judge Ralph Kohlmann, a Marine colonel, permitted Mohammed and the other co-defendants to send notes to Binalshibh. If the Yemeni still refuses to appear in court this morning, Binalshibh will be dragged from his cell.
“It is my hope that perhaps we can avoid the need for a forcible bringing of him here,” the judge said.
Mohammed chatted with his fellow defendants during a lull in the proceedings. He said through his attorney that he was offering to help because he wants Binalshibh in the courtroom. In turn, the three other co-defendants who were present said they would sign a letter by Mohammed urging Binalshibh to appear.
The five defendants were transferred to the base in Cuba from CIA custody in September 2006. A date has not been set for their trial. Each faces possible execution if convicted.
The rules for the Pentagon’s specially designed tribunal system do not require detainees to attend proceedings. But prosecutors say his absence would undermine the legitimacy of the much-criticized process.
Prosecutors say Binalshibh helped the 9/11 hijackers enter the U.S. and find flight schools.
His lawyers say he has been prescribed with medication that is used to treat schizophrenia, and they urged the judge to halt the proceedings until psychiatrists determine whether he is competent to stand trial.
