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Australian 'terror' convict freed | Australian 'terror' convict freed |
(20 minutes later) | |
An Australian sentenced by the United States for supporting terrorism has been freed from a prison in Australia, after completing his term. | An Australian sentenced by the United States for supporting terrorism has been freed from a prison in Australia, after completing his term. |
David Hicks was sentenced in March in the US after spending five years in the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. | David Hicks was sentenced in March in the US after spending five years in the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. |
Under a plea deal with prosecutors, he was jailed for seven years, with all but nine months of the sentence suspended. | Under a plea deal with prosecutors, he was jailed for seven years, with all but nine months of the sentence suspended. |
He was returned to Australia in May as part of the deal. | He was returned to Australia in May as part of the deal. |
David has done time for whatever Terry Hicks, David's father | |
Hicks was released from the maximum security prison Yalata in Adelaide without speaking to the assembled press, leaving his lawyer David McLeod to read a statement on his behalf. | |
"I had hoped to be able to speak to the media but I am just not strong enough at the moment, it's as simple as that," the statement said. | |
The father, Terry Hicks, told the press outside the prison nothing had been proven against his son. | |
"David's done five-and-a-half years pretty tough, David has done time for whatever," he said. | |
Hicks, 32, a convert to Islam who later renounced the faith, was taken prisoner in 2001 in Afghanistan and accused of terrorism links. | Hicks, 32, a convert to Islam who later renounced the faith, was taken prisoner in 2001 in Afghanistan and accused of terrorism links. |
He admitted training with al-Qaeda and meeting its leader Osama bin Laden, whom he described as "lovely", according to police evidence presented in court. |