Lawyers for David Hicks, the
The process is expected to speed his return home under a dealbetween the Australian and US governments that will allow him to serve any jailsentence in an Australian prison.
On Monday Hicks pleaded guilty to one charge of supportingal-Qaeda and the Taliban during the US-led invasion of
He has been held without trial at the
'Voluntary plea'
The defense and prosecution were expected to discuss detailsof Hicks' guilty plea on Tuesday before presenting it to the military judge fora decision later this week, Bryan Whitman, a Pentagon spokesman, toldreporters.
"Under commission rules the military judge must besatisfied that Hicks' guilty plea is voluntary and otherwise lawful,"Whitman said.
Hicks father, Terry, meanwhile has told US media hebelieves his son struck a bargain with prosecutors to get out of
"It's a way to get home, and he's told us he just wantsto get home," said Terry.
Last October, George Bush, the
Fresh challenge
The new system is also being challenged by lawyers for
Critics have said Monday's guilty plea reflects Hicks'despair at his prospects for obtaining a fair trial from the
"He and his attorneys knew he could not receive a fairtrial, so Hicks pleaded guilty," said Marine Lieutenant Colonel ColbyVokey, the lawyer for Omar Khadr, a Canadian Guantanamo detainee who isexpected to face charges before the commission.
Hicks, 31, has denied a second charge of supportingterrorism by allegedly attending training in Afghanistan and reporting to anal-Qaeda commander after the World Trade Centre attacks in September 2001.
