Australia: US told Hicks delay 'not satisfactory':

Your 5 years to late Wankers, shame on you all

Lock Georgie up for 5 years without facing trial, for his criminal actions, and see what happens

20oct06

THE Federal Government is concerned David Hicks has been behind bars at Guantanamo Bay for five years without facing trial, Federal Justice Minister Chris Ellison has said.

Senator Ellison said today the Government had made it clear to United States authorities it was not satisfactory that Hicks had been held for so long without facing trial.

"We have made it clear that we do not think that it is satisfactory that this man has been incarcerated for so long without facing trial," Mr Ellison said at the 10th International Criminal Lawyers Conference held in Perth today.

Hicks has been held at the US high security prison at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba since January 2002.

The 31-year-old had previously pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy, attempted murder and aiding the enemy.

Mr Ellison said the Federal Government was keeping in close contact with US officials in the Hicks matter, he said.

If Hicks was convicted and sentenced, it was the view of the Federal Government that any time he had served already at Guantanamo Bay should be taken into account, he said.

The Government would also consider a prisoner transfer arrangement allowing Hicks to serve out any sentence in Australia.

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