Thursday, March 29, 2012

** US close to agreement on sending convicted killer of US military medic back to Canada

** California paramedic beaten into coma at baseball game marks one year since attack;still requires 24/7 medical care

CANADA NEWS

** A Guantanamo Bay prisoner, convicted of killing a US military medic in Afghanistan, is about to be sent back to Canada to serve out his sentence. That is the word from the London Free Press (Kris Simms/March 28) which said Omar Khadr, who murdered Delta Force medic Sgt. First Class Christopher Speer on August 6, 2002, will return under a plea deal. According to the pact, Khadr will serve seven years of his eight year sentence in the country of his citizenship. Khadr pleaded guilty in October to murder, attempted murder, conspiracy, spying, and supporting terrorism. He has been held in military detention since he was 15. He is now 25.

UNITED STATES NEWS

** The family of beaten California paramedic Bryan Stow, 43, will mark one year this Saturday since his pummeling outside Dodger Stadium following a game. USA Today (March 28) said the difficult anniversary will see Stow’s relatives participate in a San Jose Brain Injury Association of California walk-a-thon. Stow, who remains permanently disabled and requiring 24/7 care, can now use a wheelchair and speak in short sentences. He still suffers, however, from short term memory loss. A pretrial hearing for the men accused of attacking Stow is set for May.