BAGHDAD, Oct 21: Legal and human rights groups said on Friday the murder of a defence lawyer on Saddam Hussein’s trial is damaging to the US-backed court and calls into question its fairness.

“This could have a chilling effect on the willingness of competent lawyers to vigorously defend the accused and that could have a fatal effect on the fairness and effectiveness of the trial,” Richard Dicker, head of Human Rights Watch’s international justice programme, told Reuters.

Rights groups, who have called for an international trial abroad, urged the Shia-led government to rapidly bolster security for the proceedings.

Specifically, they called for equal protections for defence attorneys and witnesses as have been granted to prosecutors and judges in the landmark case.

The trial was adjourned until Nov 28.—Reuters