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David Hicks didn't know whether to laugh or cry. So he smiled, but his eyes belied any beaming joy when today he took his first steps as a free man in more than six years.
"He still hadn't comprehended at that time that all he had to do
was walk out that door," said his father, Terry Hicks.
Convicted terror supporter David Hicks was released from an Australian prison yesterday after completing a US-imposed sentence for aiding al Qaeda.
He became the first person convicted at a American war crimes trial since World War II after he pleaded guilty in March this year to providing material support to a terrorist organisation.
Hicks, who was captured fighting with the Taleban in Afghanistan in December 2001, spent more than five years at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He returned to Australia to serve out his sentence.
Hicks, wearing jeans and a khaki shirt, smiled as he was escorted by officers through the barbed-wire topped gate of Adelaide's Yatala jail.
After signing his release papers, Hicks' muscular, squat frame strode to a waiting blue sedan.
The 32-year-old kangaroo skinner, with brown hair of mullet-like length, watched his watchers through hollowed red eyes, at one stage half-grinning before reverting to an expressionless mask.
More than 70 journalists, photographers, cameramen and technicians scrutinised his every move until he was driven out of sight. Attempts by media to follow his car were cut off by police.
News helicopters were banned from airspace above the jail - that was strictly only for two police helicopters which observed proceedings from above.
Hicks' father, lawyer David McLeod, and police were well prepared for the media circus. Hicks was also well-primed - he had written a statement to be issued to the media via his lawyer.
"I had hoped to be able to speak to the media but I am just not strong enough at the moment - it's as simple as that," Hicks said.
"I am sorry for that. As part of my conditions of release from Guantanamo Bay, I agreed not to speak to the media on a range of issues before March 30, 2008.
"It's my intention to honour this agreement as I don't want to do anything that might result in my return there.
"So for now, I will limit what I have to say - I will say more at a later time."
After Mr McLeod read the statement, Terry Hicks answered reporters' questions. After answering questions from how did he feel, "Good, I feel as free as he is", to what he would do now, "probably go home and go back to bed", Mr Hicks thanked reporters and departed, chuffed his son was no longer arguably Australia's most infamous prisoner. David Hicks was now just one of Australia's most infamous persons.
- AAP
