WAR ON JUSTICE

Hicks denied mental health assessment

An Australian forensic psychiatrist has been refused access to Guantanamo Bay inmate David Hicks to assess his mental health.
Professor Paul Mullen from the Victorian Institute for Forensic Mental Health visited Mr Hicks in February last year.
Last week the United States Defence Department cancelled a return visit.
Professor Mullen says there are significant questions that need to be answered about Mr Hicks's state of mind.
"Without independent mental health professionals coming in from outside, we have no idea what kind of state of mind this man is in and how close he is to suicide," he said.
"It's an outrageous situation from a mental health perspective."
Professor Mullen has told ABC Radio's AM Mr hicks needs an independent assessment of his mental health before he is brought to trial.
"Mr Hicks has made a number of statements and the state of mind that he might have been in when he made those statements are part of what the defence has to know," he said.
"There's also the issue of Mr Hicks's current state of mind - whether he is in a state to even be fit to stand trial should they bring him to trial."
Mr Hicks's military lawyer, Major Michael Mori, says he has been told that defence counsel can no longer conduct its own assessments at Guantanamo Bay.

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