David Hicks- Interview With His Father

ELEANOR HALL: David Hicks’ father will arrive in Cuba shortly before the hearing, and will be given his first opportunity in several years to be with his son.

Terry Hicks says he’s worried about his son’s mental and physical health, and he says he regards the court proceedings as deeply flawed.

Correspondent Mark Simkin spoke to Terry Hicks outside the Australian embassy in Washington DC just before Mr Hicks flew to Cuba.

TERRY HICKS: Once we get there we’ll have time with David, they’ve told us this. Also, we’ll have time with David after the arraignment.

We’re not sure what questions we’re going to ask him at this point because things change around all of a sudden, you know, we don’t know what David is going to be like, so we got to probably be aware that he’s changed and we’ll just take it from there.

MARK SIMKIN: Does that mean it’s a bit of a combination of nervousness and excitement for you, seeing your son?

TERRY HICKS: More nerves, I tell you, because as I say, look we don’t know what he’s like physically at the moment and the other thing too, it’s pretty hard to take if he’s shackled.

The last time I saw David they had him shackled to the floor and that was pretty hard to take. And it’ll be an emotional meeting, and as I say, you know, the questions you have in line to ask him go out the window.

MARK SIMKIN: Is there anything you particularly do want to say to him?

TERRY HICKS: Probably one of the main things we want to get across to David is this business that come up the last time with his being sedated and that sort of thing.

This is something that I’d … you know, we’re going to ask him to see what sort of answer we get back from David. But it may … we don’t know so David’s situation, he may not want to answer at all, or he can’t or … because we’re going to be monitored again. You know, this … we’ve still got to be careful how we go about it.

MARK SIMKIN: Have you been given any indication of the circumstances of the meeting? You said you’ll be monitored, will you be allowed to actually touch him, embrace him?

TERRY HICKS: I believe so, I believe they’re going to allow that. But as I say, we’ll wait until we get there and see if those circumstances have changed or…

MARK SIMKIN: Do you have any concerns about how his mental state may have been affected by his … this long is custody?

TERRY HICKS: It is a huge concern. You know, we’ve had feedback through the lawyers over the last few years of how he’s been going and he’s deteriorated. And as I said before you know, this is one of things that we’ve got to sort of brace ourselves for, I suppose.

And also his physical appearance as well has changed so, you know, he’s not going to be the same person as I saw three-and-a-half years ago.

MARK SIMKIN: What are your expectations for the legal proceeding itself? It’s expected to be fairly brief?

TERRY HICKS: Yes, it’s probably going to be interesting the arraignment itself, how they go about it. We don’t know what David is going to do as far as you know, whether he’s going to plead guilty or plead not guilty or whether they’ve dangled the carrot in front of him or you know, we’ve just got to wait and see on that side of it.

MARK SIMKIN: Are you pleased that at least David Hicks is now getting a day in court…

TERRY HICKS: Look, he’s having a day, but it’s not in court. It’s a misconception people have that this is a court proceeding. It’s nothing … you just can’t even run it along those lines.

It’s conducted quite differently, evidence is looked at differently. You know, it’s just got so much going against it.

MARK SIMKIN: It does seem though that the Australian Government sparked criticisms levelled that it has at least come to the party in this case. You’re here, you’re getting access to your son, there is a legal proceeding. So, progress is being made.

TERRY HICKS: You know, they’ve sponsored over here and everything else, but as far as my outlook on this is it’s still political. You know, this is one way, I suppose of appeasing everybody and saying, ‘You know, well we’ve paid for the Hicks family to go over’. You know, probably after this session, they’ll probably us to pay for it now, but it’s still political.