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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Australian Guantanamo man freed | Australian Guantanamo man freed |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| An Australian convicted by the United States of supporting terrorism has been freed from a prison in Australia. | An Australian convicted by the United States of supporting terrorism has been freed from a prison in Australia. |
| David Hicks, 32, was captured with Taleban forces in Afghanistan in 2001, and spent five years at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. | David Hicks, 32, was captured with Taleban forces in Afghanistan in 2001, and spent five years at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. |
| He was the first person to be convicted at a US war crimes trial since the end of the World War II. | |
| Under a plea deal, he was jailed for seven years, with all but nine months suspended, and returned to Australia. | Under a plea deal, he was jailed for seven years, with all but nine months suspended, and returned to Australia. |
| Hicks was released from the maximum security prison at Yalata in Adelaide. | Hicks was released from the maximum security prison at Yalata in Adelaide. |
| A federal magistrate has ruled that he remains a security risk, and must report to police three times a week, and keep a midnight to dawn to curfew. | A federal magistrate has ruled that he remains a security risk, and must report to police three times a week, and keep a midnight to dawn to curfew. |
| David's done five-and-a-half years pretty tough Terry HicksFather | David's done five-and-a-half years pretty tough Terry HicksFather |
| He will not be allowed to leave Australia, and he cannot give interviews until March. | He will not be allowed to leave Australia, and he cannot give interviews until March. |
| Hicks made no comment as he left the prison, leaving his lawyer David McLeod to read a statement on his behalf. | Hicks made no comment as he left the prison, 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. | "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. |
| Through his lawyer, Hicks thanked the Australian public for "getting me home". | Through his lawyer, Hicks thanked the Australian public for "getting me home". |
| "I will not forget, or let you down." | "I will not forget, or let you down." |
| He also said: "I am looking forward to spending some quiet time with my wonderful Dad, my family and friends." | He also said: "I am looking forward to spending some quiet time with my wonderful Dad, my family and friends." |
| His father, Terry Hicks, told the press outside the prison nothing had been proven against his son, and that David did not believe he needed to apologise. | His father, Terry Hicks, told the press outside the prison nothing had been proven against his son, and that David did not believe he needed to apologise. |
| "David's done five-and-a-half years pretty tough, David has done time for whatever," he said. | "David's done five-and-a-half years pretty tough, David has done time for whatever," he said. |
| "It's time for him to settle down." | "It's time for him to settle down." |
| Hicks, a convert to Islam who later renounced the faith, admitted training with al-Qaeda and meeting its leader Osama bin Laden, whom he described as "lovely", according to police evidence presented in court. | Hicks, a convert to Islam who later renounced the faith, admitted training with al-Qaeda and meeting its leader Osama bin Laden, whom he described as "lovely", according to police evidence presented in court. |