BAGHDAD - The trial of Saddam Hussein and seven others on charges against humanity is due to resume on Monday with defence counsel scheduled to make final arguments three weeks after gunmen killed a senior defence lawyer.But court officials told Reuters defence lawyers might ask the presiding judge to adjourn the trial for a few days, saying the killing of Khamis Al Obaidi had disrupted their legal work. Gunmen last month killed Obaidi, SaddamÂ’s deputy chief lawyer, after kidnapping him from his Baghdad home -- the third defence attorney to be killed since the tumultuous trial opened in October.
The prosecution has demanded the death penalty for Saddam and three of his former senior aides for their roles in the killings, torture and executions that followed an attempt on the Iraqi leaderÂ’s life in Dujail. Once final statements are in, a five-judge panel is expected to adjourn to consider a verdict. Officials close to the court say a verdict on Dujail can come in as early as September.