AP: Judge tosses detainee confession citing torture

A U.S. military judge barred the Pentagon Tuesday from using a Guantanamo prisoner's confession to Afghan authorities as trial evidence, saying it was obtained through torture.

Army Col. Stephen Henley said Mohammed Jawad's statements ''were obtained by physical intimidation and threats of death which, under the circumstances, constitute torture.''

Jawad's defense attorney, Air Force Maj. David Frakt, told The Associated Press that the ruling removes ''the lynchpin of the government's case.''

Guantanamo's chief prosecutor, Army Col. Lawrence Morris, said he recognized how the judge made his decision and needed to study the ruling before making more comments.

Posted by Laura at October 28, 2008 11:29 PM