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Hicks guilty plea hearing begins Hicks gets Guantanamo plea deal
(30 minutes later)
Australian detainee David Hicks has returned to a US military tribunal at Guantanamo Bay to give a detailed account of how he helped al-Qaeda. Australian David Hicks has made a plea bargain limiting his jail term for aiding al-Qaeda to seven years, a US tribunal at Guantanamo Bay has heard.
Hicks will serve his term in Australia. It is not clear if it includes the five years already spent at the prison camp.
Hicks pleaded guilty on Monday to providing material support for terrorism, in the first case to be heard by the special tribunals.Hicks pleaded guilty on Monday to providing material support for terrorism, in the first case to be heard by the special tribunals.
He must affirm the facts of the charges for the judge to accept his guilty plea. Sentence will then be passed.
The 31-year-old Muslim convert appeared with short hair and in a suit.The 31-year-old Muslim convert appeared with short hair and in a suit.
A military judge announced the terms of the deal at a hearing on whether to accept Hicks' guilty plea.
The Australian, who has been held at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba for five years, was accused of attending al-Qaeda training camps and fighting with the Taleban.The Australian, who has been held at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba for five years, was accused of attending al-Qaeda training camps and fighting with the Taleban.
The US and Australia have agreed that he can serve out his sentence in his homeland.The US and Australia have agreed that he can serve out his sentence in his homeland.
It's a way to get home, and that's what he's told us Terry HicksDavid Hicks' fatherIt's a way to get home, and that's what he's told us Terry HicksDavid Hicks' father
The prosecution team have indicated they will seek "substantially less" than a 20-year sentence. But they say Hicks must explain his guilty plea and state that he was pleading voluntarily. Before the hearing, the prosecution team indicated they would seek "substantially less" than a 20-year sentence.
But they said Hicks must explain his guilty plea and state that he was pleading voluntarily.
ConcernConcern
Hicks was led into the hearing by two guards. Instead of a prison uniform, he was wearing a suit and his hair, which had grown down his back, was cut short.Hicks was led into the hearing by two guards. Instead of a prison uniform, he was wearing a suit and his hair, which had grown down his back, was cut short.
"I'm not going to stand here and tell you that David Hicks is on a par with Osama Bin Laden," chief prosecutor Air Force Col Moe Davis said on Thursday."I'm not going to stand here and tell you that David Hicks is on a par with Osama Bin Laden," chief prosecutor Air Force Col Moe Davis said on Thursday.
But he rejected that Hicks was just a bit player for al-Qaeda.But he rejected that Hicks was just a bit player for al-Qaeda.
It was not "the grand strategic thinkers" who killed thousands of people in attacks around the world, he said.It was not "the grand strategic thinkers" who killed thousands of people in attacks around the world, he said.
Hicks' father, Terry, has said his son made the guilty plea in order to return home.Hicks' father, Terry, has said his son made the guilty plea in order to return home.
Profile: David Hicks Q&A: Military tribunalsProfile: David Hicks Q&A: Military tribunals
Hicks' hearing, which opened on Monday, was the first under a new military tribunal system introduced for the detainees, a system which has been condemned by human rights groups.Hicks' hearing, which opened on Monday, was the first under a new military tribunal system introduced for the detainees, a system which has been condemned by human rights groups.
Before the hearing began, lawyers for Hicks had suggested that he did not believe he would get a fair trial and that he was considering a plea bargain to expedite his return home.Before the hearing began, lawyers for Hicks had suggested that he did not believe he would get a fair trial and that he was considering a plea bargain to expedite his return home.
Australian Prime Minister John Howard said earlier this week that he welcomed the progress towards the resolution of Hicks' case, although he expressed concern over the amount of time it had taken.Australian Prime Minister John Howard said earlier this week that he welcomed the progress towards the resolution of Hicks' case, although he expressed concern over the amount of time it had taken.
But the Center for Constitutional Rights, which represents many of the detainees, condemned the proceedings.But the Center for Constitutional Rights, which represents many of the detainees, condemned the proceedings.
The US has said it plans to use the new tribunal system to prosecute about 80 of 385 prisoners remaining at the camp.The US has said it plans to use the new tribunal system to prosecute about 80 of 385 prisoners remaining at the camp.