Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: For the first time, Prime Minister Netanyahu is signaling that he wants to end the war on Gaza
Israeli Channel 12, citing an American source: We want to have entered a path toward captive release and a ceasefire before Netanyahu arrives in Washington
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One martyr and two injured in the Israeli airstrike that targeted a motorcycle in the town of Mahrouna
Al Mayadeen correspondent to Southern Lebanon: An Israeli drone strike targeted a vehicle between the towns of Jwayya and Mahrouna.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: One martyred in the Israeli drone strike on a car in the town of Kawnin
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli drone targets a car in the town of Kawnin
Naeini: If our national interests are attacked again, our response this time will be stronger and more destructive
Naeini: The war has proven that the settlers are defenseless against Iranian missile and drone forces
Naeini: Trump lacks an understanding of the true strength of the Iranian people and is so deluded as to believe he can change the reality of Iran's victory
Naeini: The defeat led to Trump's confusion and loss of balance, which was reflected in his ill-considered statements

Australian ex-army lawyer jailed for 5+ years for Afghan war leaks

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 14 May 2024 09:49
3 Min Read

Former army lawyer David McBride is sentenced to five years and eight months imprisonment after pleading guilty in November.

  • x
  • Defendant David McBride talks to the media before his court appearance in Canberra, Australia, on Friday, Feb. 14, 2020. (AP)
    Defendant David McBride talks to the media before his court appearance in Canberra, Australia, on Friday, February 14, 2020. (AP)

A former army lawyer in Australia was sentenced to more than five years in jail by a judge's ruling on Tuesday for stealing secret defense files on the Afghanistan war and leaking them to the media. 

According to Australian media, former army lawyer David McBride was sentenced to five years and eight months of imprisonment after pleading guilty in November to three charges of stealing and sharing military information with journalists at ABC. 

McBride pled guilty following the reported failure of his lawyers to persuade the judge that his oath of military service makes it his duty to reveal information if it was in the public interest. 

After a ruling by Justice David Mossop in the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory, McBride has to serve a minimum of two years and three months to be eligible for parole, Australian media reported. 
 
Broadcaster ABC said that it had utilized the leaked material for the "Afghan Files", which was a series in 2017 showing that Australian soldiers took part in the illegal murder of unarmed men and children in Afghanistan. 

A group of supporters outside the court applauded the announcement of Mark Davis, McBride's lawyer, who said that he would be filing an appeal which will be based on what "duty" means. 

Related News

Intercept: US built a dependent Afghan army, setting it up for failure

Afghanistan: Two dead, 5 injured in clash between Taliban groups

Attempting to hide war crimes 

On February 5, a former member of Australia's elite Special Air Service (SAS) regiment, Ben Roberts-Smith, filed a lawsuit against three Australian newspapers for stories released in 2018 accusing him of involvement in the killings of unarmed Afghan prisoners.

This came after Roberts-Smith lost a multi-million-dollar lawsuit in June 2023, after the court found that the newspapers were able to prove that the majority of their allegations were "substantially" true.

The 45-year-old's lawyers, who filed an appeal, claimed that the courtroom judge, Justice Anthony Besanko, "erred" in assessing some of the evidence.

During the trial, which spanned over a year and involved more than 100 days of evidence, shocking testimonies emerged regarding the killings carried out by Australian soldiers.

The trial also shed light on a deeply divided and factionalized SASR, commonly known as SAS, marked by internal conflicts over decorations and medals. Some evidence indicated that the regiment was influenced by a "warrior culture" saturated with violence.

A year-long report in November 2020 said that Australia's elite special forces unlawfully killed 39 civilians and prisoners in Afghanistan by summary execution as part of initiation rituals. 

This report suggested that 19 personnel should be referred to the Australian Federal Police, compensation should be provided to the families of the victims, and the military should undergo a set of reforms. 

  • Afghan war
  • Afghanistan
  • Australia
  • SAS

Most Read

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attends a protest following the US attacks on nuclear sites in Iran, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

Iran declares victory as ceasefire forces Israeli retreat

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Israeli workers survey the site where a missile launched from Iran struck in Haifa on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

True Promise 3, wave 20: 40 missiles launched, Kheibar-Shekan in first

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025
Iran launches strikes on Israeli targets, despite alleged ceasefire

Iran victorious as ceasefire with 'Israel' takes effect

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Iranian worshippers carry their country's flags in a protest to condemn Israeli attacks on multiple cities across Iran, after the Friday prayers ceremony in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP)

Iran warns of NPT withdrawal, Strait of Hormuz closure after US attack

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
In this June, 12, 2021, file photo, former Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani sits in a meeting in Tehran, Iran.
Politics

Iran strategically foiled Israeli-US scheme, Advisor Shamkhani says

Sheikh Naim
MENA

Let no one think they can subjugate Hezbollah: Sheikh Qassem

Screengrab from a video published by the al-Qassam Brigades shows confrontations with the Israeli occupation forces in Gaza, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)
Politics

Al-Qassam releases video of deadly ambush with Israeli forces in Gaza

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General, Rafael Grossi, attends an IAEA Board of Governors meeting in Vienna, Austria, Monday, June 23, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran bars IAEA chief Grossi from nuclear facility inspections

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS