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| Hicks gets Guantanamo plea deal | Hicks gets Guantanamo plea deal |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| 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. | 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 will serve his term in Australia. It is not clear if it includes the five years already spent at the prison camp. |
| Hicks, 31, pleaded guilty on Monday to providing material support for terrorism, in the first case to be heard by the special tribunals. | Hicks, 31, pleaded guilty on Monday to providing material support for terrorism, in the first case to be heard by the special tribunals. |
| This time, the Muslim convert had freshly-cut short hair and wore a suit. | This time, the Muslim convert had freshly-cut short hair and wore a suit. |
| A military judge announced the terms of the agreement at a hearing on whether to accept Hicks' guilty plea. | A military judge announced the terms of the agreement at a hearing on whether to accept Hicks' guilty plea. |
| Because of the plea, the prosecution team indicated Hicks would face "substantially less" than the 20-year sentence previously sought. | Because of the plea, the prosecution team indicated Hicks would face "substantially less" than the 20-year sentence previously sought. |
| Profile: David Hicks Q&A: Military tribunals | |
| 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. |
| Showing little emotion, the Australian confirmed he had attended al-Qaeda training camps in Afghanistan and had fought with the Taleban in 2001, under the alias Abu Muslim Australia. | Showing little emotion, the Australian confirmed he had attended al-Qaeda training camps in Afghanistan and had fought with the Taleban in 2001, under the alias Abu Muslim Australia. |
| The judge, Marine Colonel Ralph Kohlmann, read a list of the acts Hicks had admitted to, and asked him to confirm each. Hicks answered "yes, sir" or "it's good" to all. | |
| The detainee said he had had the opportunity to review notes made by his interrogators. | |
| To finalise the agreement, Hicks must convince the judge that his guilty plea is genuine and not just a tactic to return home. | |
| Under a prisoner-exchange deal between the US and Australia, Hicks will serve out his sentence in a prison in his home town of Adelaide. | Under a prisoner-exchange deal between the US and Australia, Hicks will serve out his sentence in a prison in his home town of Adelaide. |
| Concern | Concern |
| Hicks' father, Terry, has said his son made the guilty plea in order to return to Australia. | |
| 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. |
| 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. |