Fed: Hicks granted hearing date in Federal Court =2 Sydney

AAP General News (Australia)
12-06-2006
Fed: Hicks granted hearing date in Federal Court =2 Sydney

In the papers .. the lawyers are calling for the federal government to ask the US to
release HICKS .. saying the Commonwealth has a constitutional duty to protect him.

They say Mr RUDDOCK and Mr DOWNER should be ordered by the court to consider whether
and how the federal government should protect HICKS .. by seeking his release and repatriation.

And the court's being asked to rule on the federal government's claim .. HICKS can't
be charged with any offence under Australian law if he's freed from Guantanamo Bay.

The papers say that's an irrelevant consideration when deciding whether Australia should
seek HICKS' release.

HICKS' lawyers want the court to make the orders using a 14th century English legal
concept .. a writ of habeas corpus.

This commands prison officials holding a prisoner to bring them to court.

AAP RTV bt/klw/tm/bart

KEYWORD: HICKS 2 SYDNEY

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