Father loses hope of Hicks's freedom

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The father of Australian Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks says he fears his son has little prospect of release from the US military camp where he has been held for three-and-a-half years. David Hicks, 30, was detained in Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States.

He has pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to attack civilians, attempted murder and aiding the enemy. Terry Hicks says he believes his son will have little chance of proving his innocence in the US military tribunals system. "With the military tribunals, I believe that David will be found guilty and he will get possibly 25 years or more for just being in a country at the wrong time," he said.

"Regardless of what evidence or anything that David or the defence comes up with, it won't stand up because the President of the United States, he's the head of the military and he has the final say." Hicks's mother says her son will find it extremely difficult to settle back into society if he is released. Speaking at a conference on the Gold Coast, Bev Hicks said her son's lengthy incarceration has left its mark.

"The man's been locked away in a cell for three-and-a-half years," she said. " has no contact with anyone but the guards and his lawyers and if there's a prisoner in the cell next to him, he's lucky to have someone. "He's very depressed now after three-and-a-half years. "If he's lucky enough to be set free, he's going to have a very hard time getting back into society. He's going to need a lot of help."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200508/s1446809.htm