Canada judge declines release of confidential papers in terror case News
Canada judge declines release of confidential papers in terror case

[JURIST] Canadian Federal Court Judge Richard Mosley refused to require the release of confidential evidence [ruling, PDF; summary, PDF] against alleged terrorist Mohammed Momin Khawaja [CBC backgrounder] on Monday, saying "that disclosure of most of the information would be injurious to national security or to international relations." Mosley told defense lawyers that he will summarize some of the information, but will not force Canadian prosecutors to release the documents.

Khawaja was arrested [JURIST report] in March 2004, and was the first to be charged under Canada's post-September 11 Anti-Terrorism Act [text; CBC backgrounder]. He was identified as a co-conspirator in a UK fertilizer bomb terror plot which resulted late last month in life sentences for five British nationals [JURIST report]. AFP has more.

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.