Australian Dems seek 'proper' Hicks trial

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THE Australian Democrats will seek to have terror suspect David Hicks' military commission trial scrapped in favour of a "properly constituted court" hearing.
Democrats' Senator Natasha Stott Despoja will move a notice of motion in the Senate on Wednesday calling on the Federal Government to advocate the transfer of Hicks' case from the military commission to a properly constituted court or, alternatively, to expedite his return to Australia.

Adelaide-born Hicks has been detained for almost four years by the United States at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, after he was captured among Taliban fighters in Afghanistan in late 2001. The 30-year-old has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder, aiding the enemy and conspiracy. A date for his military commission trial has not yet been set.


Senator Stott Despoja's motion acknowledges the serious doubts raised by legal and military experts about the commission process that will be used to try terror suspects. It also notes that Spain, France and the United Kingdom have all refused to allow their citizens to be tried before a military commission.
Hicks' Australian lawyer, David McLeod, today welcomed the motion.


"David Hicks supports the motion that is to be moved and calls on all senators who are committed to the rights of Australian citizens to a fair trial in accordance with international standards to support it," Mr McLeod said. The motion follows a plea last month by the Law Council of Australia for the Federal Government to advocate Hicks' trial be moved to a different court or bring the terror suspect home.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,16495935%255E1702,00.html