I don't think John will get big limelight for his day in court - whatever court he ends up in - nor will he get much sympathy. It's true that if he is tried in US Civil courts, every attempt to Johnny Walker this case into a trial of US culture will be made, but because of the import of the subject; the case will be much better controlled then the OJ free-for-all, and appropriate gag orders will be placed (around any issue that can be contrued as a security risk). If it goes to US civil courts, it'll take years, his lawyers will appeal the conviction as long as possible and 12 yers from now he'll be exceuted with a handful of protesters outside the jailhouse and a few reporters trying diligently to muster a sense of rage among the viewing public (which won't be sympathetic or interested).

If he is tried by a military tribunal, and if he cotinues to cooperate, he may get life rather then death. In which case he will be quietly forgotten. His father will write a book condemning the US, Bush and the bad guys of al Qaeda who brain washed him ... but the book will flop.

If he is turned over to Afghan because he is not a US citizen he will be quickly and unceramoniously executed.