Australian who exposed war crimes allegations jailed
Australian whistleblower David McBride, pivotal in exposing allegations of war crimes in Afghanistan, has been sentenced to five years and eight months behind bars. McBride, a former military lawyer, pleaded guilty to sharing military secrets just before his trial, citing a moral obligation to speak out. His actions led to revelations of unlawful killings of 39 Afghans by Australian forces during the conflict.
McBride, 60, disclosed troves of documents to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), expressing concerns about command attitudes and what he then thought was the “over-investigation” of troops, the court heard. However, his leaks formed the basis of The Afghan Files, a series revealing operations of Australia’s elite special forces and allegations of war crimes.
- Australian teen jailed for 14 years over UK woman’s murder
- Australians call for tougher laws on violence against women after killings
Prosecutors argued McBride’s motives were driven by personal reasons, endangering national security. Despite his lawyers’ plea for leniency, emphasising his honourable intentions, the court deemed his breach of trust severe. Justice David Mossop acknowledged McBride’s good character but criticised his lack of remorse. He is eligible for parole in 27 months.
Australian whistleblower David McBride video
@ritajoyan David McBride, australian army lawyer, served two tours of duty in afghanistan and became aware of the crimes being commited and spoke up, becoming a whistleblower #afghan #afghanistan #whistleblowers #davidmcbride #julianassangemyhero #whistleblowersareheros
♬ inspirational acoustic guitar piano ( ambient background instrumental music calm – megamusic
