A US military judge has scheduled the trial for four alleged 9/11 conspirators to begin in June 2028 at Guantánamo Bay.
Key facts
- •Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was captured in Pakistan in March 2003 and transferred to Guantánamo Bay in 2006.
- •A 2024 plea deal that would have spared three defendants from the death penalty was revoked by then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
- •The trial will take place at Guantánamo Bay, where the defendants have been held for two decades.
- •The US appeals court recently upheld the revocation of the defendants' previous plea agreements.
A US military judge has ordered Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and three co-defendants to stand trial for their alleged roles in the September 11 attacks. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Michael Schrama issued a scheduling order on Wednesday setting the opening proceedings for June 5, 2028. The decision follows a US appeals court ruling that blocked previous plea deals that would have allowed the defendants to avoid the death penalty.
Scheduling and Legal Hurdles
The trial date was set after Judge Schrama rejected a prosecution request to begin proceedings in early 2027. He stated that a 2028 date was necessary to allow sufficient time for the resolution of pretrial evidentiary and compliance motions. The case has faced years of delays stemming from disputes over evidence obtained during the defendants' time in CIA custody, where they were subjected to torture.
Defendants and Trial Structure
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, often described as the mastermind of the 2001 attacks, faces trial alongside Walid bin Attash, Mustafa al-Hawsawi, and Ali Abdul Aziz Ali. The trial process will begin with the selection of a jury composed of military service members. Opening statements are scheduled to occur 30 days after jury selection, followed by the prosecution's case, a 60-day window for the defense, and a final sentencing phase.
Timeline
- March 2003Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was captured by US forces in Pakistan.
- 2006Mohammed arrived at the Guantánamo Bay detention facility.
- 2024Mohammed and two co-defendants reached a plea deal to avoid the death penalty, which was later revoked.
- June 5, 2028Opening proceedings for the trial are scheduled to begin.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Al Jazeera.
