Former Military Lawyer David McBride Addresses Supporters before Trial Over Allegations of War Crimes Leaks
Key Highlights :
Former military lawyer David McBride declared “today I serve my country” as he entered an ACT court to face trial for the alleged leaking of material later used to expose Australian war crimes in Afghanistan. McBride faces five charges, including the unauthorised disclosure of information, breaches of the Defence Act and the theft of commonwealth property. His trial started on Monday in the ACT Supreme Court, with supporters gathering outside the court to hear speeches from the Human Rights Law Centre's Senior Lawyer Kieran Pender, Julian Assange's Australian lawyer Stephen Kenny, and the Medical Association for Prevention of War's Sue Wareham, among others.
McBride spoke briefly to the crowd as he entered the court with his support dog, Jakey, who will stay beside him during the proceedings. “Today I serve my country,” he said. “The question I have for you, Anthony Albanese, is who do you serve?” McBride allegedly leaked material to the ABC about the investigation of Australian special forces operating in Afghanistan. ABC reporters later used the documents as the basis of a 2017 series on Australian war crimes titled The Afghan Files.
The court on Monday was dealing with preliminary legal issues before a jury was to be empanelled later this week. It heard on Monday morning that the commonwealth was seeking to intervene via the National Security Information Act – a law that can be used to suppress parts of the evidence and restrict the handling of sensitive information. The commonwealth will also make a public interest immunity claim over some of the evidence due to be heard during the proceedings. The issues around suppression and secrecy will be heard on Wednesday, the court heard. Justice David Mossop is presiding over the trial.
McBride's trial is an important moment in the fight for greater transparency and accountability in the Australian military. The material McBride allegedly leaked was used to reveal evidence of Australian war crimes committed in Afghanistan, and if found guilty, McBride could face up to five years in prison. The outcome of the trial is likely to have implications for freedom of speech and the public's right to know about government conduct.
McBride's supporters argue that he is being unfairly targeted for doing the right thing by exposing war crimes, and they are standing in solidarity with him. McBride's case is a reminder of the power of whistleblowing and the importance of speaking out against government misconduct. Whatever the outcome of the trial, McBride is determined to continue his fight for justice and transparency.
