Friday, December 3, 2004

US lawyer wants inquiry into Hicks trial process

The lawyer defending Australian terror suspect [scapegoat for resource wars] David Hicks has called for an inquiry into whether the military commission hearing the case meets legal standards.

The American military lawyer appointed to defend Hicks says his client will not get a fair hearing from an American military commission.

Major Michael Mori is leading a defence team of Australian lawyers and is in Melbourne for a seminar on legal tactics.

Major Mori says the commission system has been condemned internationally but Australia has yet to voice any dissatisfaction with the process. Major Mori wants an inquiry into the fairness of the commission system.

"I would really like to see a sort of public inquiry into the actual commission process and does it meet international legal standards... the type of standards of justice we'd expect for anyone around the world," he said.

"England has come out very strong condemning the commission system and has said their citizens can not go through the commission process, and the US won't let its citizens go though the commission process, but Australia seems to be satisfied with it."


By Just Us 3 December 04

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