Vic: Prosecution seeks retrial on terror charge for Jack Thomas

AAP General News (Australia)
12-01-2006
Vic: Prosecution seeks retrial on terror charge for Jack Thomas

MELBOURNE, Dec 1 AAP - Prosecutors are seeking a retrial of terrorism charges against
Melbourne man Joseph Terrence Thomas.

The 33-year-old was jailed earlier this year for receiving funds from al-Qaeda and
for holding a false passport.

But the convictions were quashed by the Court of Appeal in August.

The matter returned to the same court today where prosecutor, Wendy Abrahams, QC, applied
for a retrial, saying it was in the public interest.

The court heard the prosecution would rely on an interview Mr Thomas gave to ABC television
and The Age newspaper.

Lex Lasry, QC, for Mr Thomas, opposed the application, saying the charges could not
be proved based on the media interviews.

He said a retrial would be unjust and could subject his client to further incarceration
four years after he was first arrested.

Mr Thomas originally was sentenced in March to five years jail with a minimum of two years.

In quashing the convictions later, the Court of Appeal ruled an interview with the
Australian Federal Police in Pakistan was inadmissible because it was involuntary.

Justices Chris Maxwell, Peter Buchanan and Frank Vincent adjourned today's hearing
for a judgment at a date to be fixed.

AAP mok/mh/pe/cdh

KEYWORD: THOMAS

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