David McBride, an Australian whistleblower and former military lawyer, has lost his appeal to lessen a lengthy prison sentence for leaking classified documents about alleged war crimes committed by Australian special forces in Afghanistan. The Australian Capital Territory Court of Appeal upheld a sentence of five years and eight months, igniting outrage among his legal team, who plan to take the case to the High Court, arguing the public interest and constitutional issues at stake. McBride maintains that his actions served to uphold his ethical commitments and to inform Australians of wrongdoing.
"We believe that only the High Court can properly grapple with the immense public interest and constitutional issues at the heart of this case."
"It cannot be a crime to expose a crime. It cannot be illegal to tell the truth."
"It is my own conscience and the people of Australia that I answer to. I have kept my oath to the Australian people."
Rights advocates have criticized the prosecution, saying that McBride remains the only person to be imprisoned over allegations of war crimes committed by elite Australian special forces troops in Afghanistan.
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