Hicks's ordeal a disgrace: lawyer

[struggle4progress]

By Geoff Elliott
June 23, 2005

DAVID Hicks's new Australian lawyer has slammed his client's prolonged detention at Guantanamo Bay as a disgrace, saying he holds grave concerns for his health.

"He has hollow eyes, a pallid complexion and a look of despair that he may never receive justice," said David McLeod, the Adelaide lawyer and Gulf War veteran who met Hicks for the first time last week.

His harsh criticism echoes comments made by Hicks's former Australian lawyer, Stephen Kenny, who was sacked several months ago because he was overly critical of the federal Government. Mr McLeod has indicated that he can work closely with the Government. <snip>

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,15699647-2,00.html

[cal04]

1. Hicks may have been set up: Dick Smith

I've heard through ... various legal people that he's completely innocent, that he was actually found in a taxi, that he's never, ever fired a shot in at anyone in anger," he told Sky News today.

"So the whole thing could be a complete set-up and this poor bloke is innocent, (and) is probably going to end up locked up for five or maybe 10 years."

Hicks's civilian lawyer, Adelaide-based David McLeod, has spent the past five days meeting with Hicks at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and says his client is at breaking point.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,15704573%255E1702,00.html

[geek tragedy]

2. He has a right to due process, but his story is more than a little fishy.

Dude was fighting with the Taliban.

[countmyvote4real]

3. dude was "fighting" with the (insert chosen enemy here)

That's hear-say and a pretty prevalent prosecution in countries/societies that don’t favor a due process of law. I’m not a lawyer, so I might use some terms incorrectly. But in the system that I grew-up with here (U.S.) an alleged criminal had to be charged with a crime with some credible evidence to back it up. A trial would presume where both parties would be allowed to present their case before a jury of their peers.

This is not the case for Gitmo detainees. They have not been formally charged. They are just being held until what? They die under a combination of mental and physical abuse? (And please, don’t attempt to parade a cafeteria menu to absolve any documented deaths and abuses.)

More likely, their misery will come to an end when Halliburton completes the new multi-million dollar detention center (AKA gas chamber) and the case against them is formally charged after they have been exterminated.

Apologies to no one.