Omar Khadr: Will He Plead Guilty?

Omar Khadr trial begins today; will he plead guilty?

GUANTANAMO BAY - A guard watches over Camp Delta prison where Canadian Omar Khadr is detained Oct 24, 2010.
MICHELLE SHEPHARD/TORONTO STAR

Oct 25 2010 - The double doors inside the hilltop courtroom opened to reveal a tall, lanky, acne-faced Omar Khadr, sporting too-big running shoes and a Roots Athletics jersey.

It was the afternoon of Jan. 11, 2006, Khadr was 19, and this was the first time he had been seen publicly since being shot and captured in Afghanistan more than three years earlier.

The double doors will open in the military courtroom Monday morning and a 24-year-old, bulkier, full-bearded Khadr, likely donning a suit this time, will again come before a military judge.

The court spectators are expected to include the widow of Christopher Speer, the 28-year-old Delta Force soldier, trained medic and father of two, who was fatally wounded in the firefight when Khadr was caught.

She has not made any public comments since a 2007 interview when she talked at length about the devastating impact of her husband’s death. She is scheduled to give a victim impact statement at Khadr’s sentencing.

For days there have been coy public comments from lawyers and politicians as they dodge questions about whether Khadr will plead guilty to five war crimes, including murder for Speer’s death. He reportedly would get eight years for the plea — seven of which would be served in Canada. {read rest}