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Guilty plea from detainee Hicks | Guilty plea from detainee Hicks |
(9 minutes later) | |
Australian detainee David Hicks has pleaded guilty at a military court at Guantanamo Bay to charges of providing material support for terrorism. | Australian detainee David Hicks has pleaded guilty at a military court at Guantanamo Bay to charges of providing material support for terrorism. |
The 31-year-old Muslim convert was accused of attending al-Qaeda training camps and fighting with the Taleban. | The 31-year-old Muslim convert was accused of attending al-Qaeda training camps and fighting with the Taleban. |
The plea means that Hicks, who has been at the camp for five years, will return to Australia to serve his sentence. | The plea means that Hicks, who has been at the camp for five years, will return to Australia to serve his sentence. |
Hicks is the first detainee at the detention camp to face terror charges under new US rules. | Hicks is the first detainee at the detention camp to face terror charges under new US rules. |
There were handshakes, hugs and tears ... He looks bloody terrible Terry HicksDavid Hicks' father | There were handshakes, hugs and tears ... He looks bloody terrible Terry HicksDavid Hicks' father |
He was charged under the new Military Commissions Act, which human rights groups condemn. | He was charged under the new Military Commissions Act, which human rights groups condemn. |
'Earliest opportunity' | 'Earliest opportunity' |
Hicks appeared at the hearing wearing khaki prison fatigues and with hair down to his chest - grown, his lawyer said, to pull over his eyes at night to keep out the light and allow him to get to sleep. | Hicks appeared at the hearing wearing khaki prison fatigues and with hair down to his chest - grown, his lawyer said, to pull over his eyes at night to keep out the light and allow him to get to sleep. |
As the proceedings got under way, Hicks was formally charged and initially deferred entering a plea. | As the proceedings got under way, Hicks was formally charged and initially deferred entering a plea. |
But later on his lawyers told the judge he was pleading guilty. | But later on his lawyers told the judge he was pleading guilty. |
Other charges against him, including attempted murder, have been dropped. | |
Prosecution and defence lawyers now have until 1600 on Tuesday (2000GMT) to reach agreement on a plea deal establishing his sentence. | Prosecution and defence lawyers now have until 1600 on Tuesday (2000GMT) to reach agreement on a plea deal establishing his sentence. |
Profile: David Hicks Q&A: Military tribunals | Profile: David Hicks Q&A: Military tribunals |
US and Australian authorities have already agreed that Hicks will serve out his sentence in his native country. | US and Australian authorities have already agreed that Hicks will serve out his sentence in his native country. |
He faces a maximum sentence of life but after strong pressure from the Australian government there is speculation that he will receive a shorter sentence. | |
Before the hearing, which was opened to members of the press, Hicks was allowed a two-hour reunion with his father and sister. | Before the hearing, which was opened to members of the press, Hicks was allowed a two-hour reunion with his father and sister. |
He last saw his father, Terry, at a previous hearing in August 2004. | He last saw his father, Terry, at a previous hearing in August 2004. |
"There were handshakes, hugs and tears," Terry Hicks told journalists. "He looks bloody terrible." | "There were handshakes, hugs and tears," Terry Hicks told journalists. "He looks bloody terrible." |
Criticism | Criticism |
David Hicks arrived in Guantanamo Bay in early 2002 after being captured in Afghanistan a month earlier. | David Hicks arrived in Guantanamo Bay in early 2002 after being captured in Afghanistan a month earlier. |
The former farm hand and kangaroo skinner was charged and started a trial process previously in August 2004. | The former farm hand and kangaroo skinner was charged and started a trial process previously in August 2004. |
However, the US Supreme Court last year ruled the system unconstitutional. | However, the US Supreme Court last year ruled the system unconstitutional. |
The administration of President George W Bush then tabled a revised tribunal system that was passed by Congress. | The administration of President George W Bush then tabled a revised tribunal system that was passed by Congress. |
Hicks is the first person to be tried under the new procedures. Two others, Omar Khadr, a Canadian, and Salim Ahmed Hamdan, from Yemen, have been indicted but have not yet been read sworn charges, Cmdr Durand said. | Hicks is the first person to be tried under the new procedures. Two others, Omar Khadr, a Canadian, and Salim Ahmed Hamdan, from Yemen, have been indicted but have not yet been read sworn charges, Cmdr Durand said. |
The US has said it plans to use the new system to prosecute about 80 of the remaining 385-or-so prisoners at the camp. | The US has said it plans to use the new system to prosecute about 80 of the remaining 385-or-so prisoners at the camp. |
Human rights campaign group Amnesty International has condemned the tribunals as "shabby show trials" and demanded that detainees be tried under the regular US judicial system. | Human rights campaign group Amnesty International has condemned the tribunals as "shabby show trials" and demanded that detainees be tried under the regular US judicial system. |