The Associated Press
A federal judge says that prosecutors can use a confession by a Falls Church man charged with joining al-Qaida and plotting to assassinate President Bush, despite defense claims that the confession was obtained through torture.
The ruling came after a six-day hearing in which Ahmed Omar Abu Ali testified that the Saudi security force whipped him on his back, kicked him in the stomach and pulled on his beard to obtain a confession.
The judge reviewed photographs of 24-year-old's back that Abu Ali says was proof of his torture. Prosecutors had argued that Abu Ali's confession was voluntary. They cited a 13-minute videotaped confession given by Abu Ali, in which he ad-libbed jokes and pantomimed the use of an assault rifle.
The judge said that he would explain his rationale in a forthcoming order. Abu Ali faces up to life in prison.
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