The mental health of Australian terror suspect David Hicks has deteriorated further, and the Adelaide man is now unwilling to speak with consular officials, his lawyer says.
Adelaide lawyer David McLeod said Hicks had just met with his military lawyer Major Michael Mori at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba and Major Mori had reported that his physical and mental condition had "slipped".
Mr McLeod said Hicks was overweight because of his poor diet and lack of exercise and was having trouble with his eyesight.
Mentally, Hicks had become suspicious of those who claimed to represent his interests and recently refused to speak to the visiting Australian consul for the first time.
"Major Mori is finding David increasingly reluctant to interact, not because he doesn't want to but because he is finding it socially difficult to do so," Mr McLeod said.
"Major Mori's best description of David is that he is slipping."
Mr McLeod made the comments at a rally in Adelaide in support of Hicks, who has been in US custody at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba for almost five years.
He said it was time the government accepted the fact that Hicks had effectively served a five-year sentence in tough conditions and it was appropriate to release him to Australia, effectively on parole.
"While there are many who would argue that David should be released without further ado, there is clearly broad public support for a practical solution to be found that recognises the various points of view which would result in David coming home," Mr McLeod said.
Hicks has been in custody since he was captured in Afghanistan in 2001 in the wake of the US invasion.
He has been charged with attempted murder, conspiracy to commit war crimes and aiding the enemy.
He is expected to face a revised form of military commission after recent moves in the US to change the laws governing their operation.
The original commission process was earlier found to be unlawful by the US Supreme Court.
Mr McLeod said Major Mori had been at a loss to explain to Hicks how retrospective laws could be used to deal with him.
He said the changes meant Hicks could spend another two years in detention without trial, unless the Australian government intervened.
Front page
RSS Feed