Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba – An Australian who allegedly trained with al-Qaeda and fought for the Taliban in Afghanistan said in a courtroom Monday that he needed more lawyers to defend himself against a charge that he provided material support for terrorism.
David Hicks, wearing a khaki prison jumpsuit, was being arraigned Monday – the first suspect to face prosecution under revised military tribunals established after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year that the Pentagon’s system for trying Guantanamo detainees was unconstitutional.
Before the hearing, the Muslim convert shaved his beard but kept the long hair he uses to block the constant light in his cell at the isolated prison.
The 31-year-old former kangaroo skinner and outback cowboy said he was satisfied with his defense team but would ask later for more defense lawyers.
He is accused of attending al-Qaeda training camps in Afghanistan and briefly fighting alongside the Taliban after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. He was among the first prisoners taken to the isolated military prison in January 2002 and has been awaiting trial since.
“I’m hoping to have more lawyers and paralegals to get equality with the prosecution,” Hicks told the military court’s presiding officer, Marine Corps Col. Ralph Kohlmann.
Earlier, Hicks was considering a plea deal, said Australian attorney David McLeod, who met with his client a day before the hearing.
U.S. and Australian officials have said Hicks could serve his sentence in Australia.
