David Hicks: United States admits convicted terrorist is innocent, lawyer says

AUSTRALIAN man David Hicks is set to have his terrorism conviction overturned after the US conceded that the former Guantánamo Bay inmate was innocent, his lawyer says.

Adelaide human rights solicitor Stephen Kenny today said the US had written to him, confirming it did not dispute his client’s innocence.

The letter, which cannot be released publicly, said the 2007 conviction for providing material support for terrorism was invalid.

Mr Kenny said it “was all but a done deal” that Mr Hicks would be found not to have committed any crimes during his time in Afghanistan in the early 2000s.

However, he would not be eligible for any compensation as the US Government had declared the capture of terrorist suspects was in the interests of “national security”.

Mr Kenny said the case mirrored that of another Guantánamo Bay detainee, Noor Muhammed, who had charges against him dropped and his conviction withdrawn this month.

He said the military commission set aside Mr Muhammed’s conviction and the same was expected for Mr Hicks.

“We are hoping that the military commission will make a ruling within a month,” Mr Kenny said.

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http://www.news.com.au/national/david-hicks-united-states-admits-convicted-terrorist-is-innocent-lawyer-says/story-fncynjr2-1227193974027