Federal judge allows alleged torture confession in Bush assassination case News
Federal judge allows alleged torture confession in Bush assassination case

[JURIST] US District Judge Gerald Bruce Lee ruled Monday that federal prosecutors can use a confession made by Ahmed Omar Abu Ali, a US citizen charged [indictment, PDF; JURIST report] with conspiracy to assassinate the president, conspiracy to commit aircraft piracy, providing material support to al Qaeda and various other crimes. Abu Ali has said that he was tortured [JURIST report] into confessing to the assassination plot by Saudi Arabian security officers after he was arrested in Saudi Arabia in 2003 while enrolled at the Islamic University of Medina. Saudi Arabia has denied the torture accusations and prosecutors argued that the confession was made voluntarily and scars on Abu Ali's back were not proof of flogging, rather could have been self imposed to support his claim of torture. Judge Lee issued a one page order [PDF text] allowing the confession, but promised to explain his reasoning in a forthcoming opinion. AP has more.

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THIS DAY @ LAW

38 Santee Sioux hanged by US for rebellion

On December 26, 1862, 38 Santee Sioux men were hanged in a mass execution for their roles in a rebellion against US authorities in Minnesota which left hundreds dead and made refugees of some 40,000 white settlers. Government annuities promised under a treaty with the Sioux had failed to arrive on schedule and credit for purchases was not advanced in the meantime, threatening the tribe with starvation. The Santee Sioux Tribe's members were deported first to South Dakota and ultimately to Nebraska, where they remain today. Learn more about the 1862 Minnesota Sioux Rebellion.

Louis XVI put on trial during French Revolution

On December 26, 1792, Romain de Sèze, a defense attorney for deposed King Louis XVI, presented a defense of his client. The former King was on trial before a French Revolutionary court on thirty-three charges, including treason and other crimes against the state. He was convicted on January 15, 1793 executed by guillotine on the following January 21.