Appeals court vacates two convictions of bin Laden aide

Source: McClatchy Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON — A civilian appeals court on Monday vacated two convictions of a former aide to terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden.

In a split decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit concluded a military commission lacked authority to convict Ali Hamza Ahmad Suliman al Bahlul of two out of three charges.

Military prosecutors charged Bahlul with conspiracy to commit war crimes, providing material support for terrorism and solicitation of others to commit war crimes. A military commission convicted him of all three crimes and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

In the decision Monday, the appellate court rejected Bahlul’s challenge to the conspiracy charge but vacated the other two.

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