On this day in 2004 Australian David Hicks stood in a US courtroom facing charges of terrorism, conspiracy and attempted murder after being apprehended by US forces in Afghanistan - he pled not guilty.
The plea failed and in 2007 Mr Hicks received a suspended sentence from the United States Guantanamo military commission. He returned to Australia and in 2015 his sentence was overturned by the US Court of Military Commission Review.
The story of David Hicks and his exploits is one that has been openly debated in Australia and around the world for years.
Questions about why he was in Afghanistan have swirled for decades, as have allegations of mistreatment and torture he suffered while a prisoner of the controversial, and now closed, military prison - Guantanamo Bay.
At the time of his hearing, lawyers for the then 29- year-old Mr Hicks claimed he was abused while in US custody, a claim denied by the US and Australian governments.
In a statement to the commission, his lawyers alleged staff at the prison hooded, beat and sexually assaulted Mr Hicks on various occasions.
His lawyers argued that the military commission - the first staged by the US since World War II - was weighed against the accused, claiming that even if Mr Hicks was found not guilty of all charges he could still be detained as an enemy combatant.
One of the more sensational charges against Mr Hicks was that he personally met with al-Qaeda leader Osama bin laden and translated documents from Arabic to English.
With no evidence to support the allegation lawyers for Mr Hicks argued the only way to disprove the charge would be to cross-examine bin Laden himself.
Described by former classmates as somewhat of an outsider who dabbled in drugs and satanism, his own father told the commission 'his son was born into the wrong time'.
Terry Hicks described his son as an Indiana Jones-like adventurer who should have been born a few centuries ago with a sword in his hand.
In 2012 the Australian The Director of Public Prosecutions announced that the case against Mr Hicks had been dropped citing that evidence obtained while in US custody was not admissible.
Mr Hicks' legal team argued the evidence was obtained in instances that contravene international human rights.
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Andrew Chounding
An experienced multi-platform journalist focusing on the issues that impact health in Tasmania. With a background in social research and public policy, health reporting for Andrew is about ensuring the best health outcomes for the Northern Tasmanian community. Contact Andrew at: andrew.chounding@examiner.com.au or 0437 358 262
An experienced multi-platform journalist focusing on the issues that impact health in Tasmania. With a background in social research and public policy, health reporting for Andrew is about ensuring the best health outcomes for the Northern Tasmanian community. Contact Andrew at: andrew.chounding@examiner.com.au or 0437 358 262
