U.S. judge finds Khadr estate liable for attack

A U.S. court has made a huge judgment against the estate of Ahmed Khadr, the patriarch of a Canadian family connected to al-Qaeda.

Khadr is believed to be dead, killed in a 2003 fight with Pakistani soldiers on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

Omar Khadr, one son of Ahmed, was involved in a fight in 2002 in Afghanistan that killed one U.S. soldier and wounded another.

The wounded soldier, Sgt. Layne Morris, and the widow of medic Christopher Speer, sued Ahmed under the U.S. Patriot Act. They said the father encouraged his sons, including the underage Omar, to kill Americans.

The judge hearing the case said it may be the first of its kind because it makes attackers liable for their actions, even outside the U.S.

He awarded $102.6 million US to Morris and Speer's widow on Friday in an uncontested case, although it's not clear how or even if they can collect any part of the money.

It is believed the U.S. and Canadian governments have seized Ahmed Khadr's assets.

The U.S. has accused at least two of Khadr's sons of attacks or planning attacks on American solders.

Omar, 15 at the time of the battle and now 19, is being tried in Guantanamo Bay. He was captured in the attack that wounded Morris and killed Speer. His next court appearance is set for March 27.

• FROM JAN. 13, 2006: Khadr likely to get new legal team

His brother, Abdullah, spent a year in a Pakistani jail before being released in 2005. He came to Toronto. The U.S. government is trying to extradite him.

• FROM FEB. 15, 2006: U.S. requests Khadr extradition

U.S. officials allege he bought weapons for militants and accuse him of plotting to kill American soldiers.