FED: Hicks' lawyers to challenge prosecution witnesses

AAP General News (Australia)
08-04-2005
FED: Hicks' lawyers to challenge prosecution witnesses

SYDNEY, Aug 4 AAP - Lawyers for Australian terrorist suspect David Hicks plan to challenge
the validity of several prosecution witnesses at his military commission trial in Guantanamo
Bay, Cuba.

The US marine major charged with defending Hicks, Michael Mori, yesterday indicated
the trial before would start with the defence objecting to witnesses on the grounds their
evidence was hearsay, based on unrecorded interrogations or was in the form of a statement
only, The Australian newspaper reported today.

Major Mori's comments follows the resignation of a third US military prosecutor,

US Air Force captain Carrie Wolf, who said she resigned because of concerns the military
commissions were rigged.

Major Robert Preston and Captain John Carr who also resigned from the case complained
in emails that the commissions were designed to ensure guilty verdicts.

Attorney-General Philip Ruddock said it would be inappropriate for him to reveal details
of the witnesses or the nature of their evidence.

"They (the prosecutors) believe it is a substantial case and I make the point that
it's naive to believe you can enter into a trial without people who are going to be able
to depose for the facts for that to be established," he said.

AAP na/cdh

KEYWORD: HICKS MORI

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