Defense rests at bin Laden driver's trial

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- The defense rested Friday in the first terror case against a Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, detainee after submitting written testimony of a confessed al-Qaida leader.

"He was not a soldier, he was a driver," Khalid Sheikh Mohammed said in an English translation of his written testimony. "He was not fit to plan or execute. But he is fit to change trucks' tires, change oil filters, wash and clean cars and fasten cargo in pickup trucks."

The jury of six U.S. military officers could begin deliberating as soon as Monday after summations, The Miami Herald reported.

Lawyers for Osama bin Laden's driver, Salim Hamdan of Yemen, called eight witnesses. Testimony included written answers to defense lawyers' questions sent to the war court from Mohammed, the admitted architect of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, and co-conspirator Walid bin Attash, as well as closed-door testimony of two Special Forces officers.

Prosecutors called 14 witnesses, 10 of whom were federal agents who described Hamdan's admissions during 15 months of interrogations. Those admissions formed the basis of the prosecutor's case, accusing the driver of conspiracy in al-Qaida attacks and providing material support to terrorism.

Presiding judge Navy Capt. Keith Allred said he would write his instructions during the weekend and give them Monday.

"I envision you being able to begin your deliberations on Monday afternoon," the judge told the jurors before giving them the weekend off. "We will wait until you are ready. Take as long as you want."