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08/08/2003
Clemency for six Britons convicted of Saudi bombings
The six British men who were convicted of killing a man in a spate of terror bombings in Saudi Arabia have been released and repatriated back to the UK.
The men, who landed at Heathrow Airport this afternoon, were released after receiving "clemency" from the Saudi royal family.
James Cottle, Peter Brandon, Les Walker and James Lee were sentenced to 18-year prison terms in 2001. Two others – Scot Sandy Mitchell and William Sampson – received death sentences.
All had consistently proclaimed their innocence and claimed that videotaped 'confessions' had been made under duress.
The series of bombings in Saudi Arabia culminated in November 2000 with the death of Briton Christopher Rodway.
The bomb campaign which had been ongoing for nearly a year at the time of Mr Roway's death, injured several Western ex-pats.
(GMcG)
The men, who landed at Heathrow Airport this afternoon, were released after receiving "clemency" from the Saudi royal family.
James Cottle, Peter Brandon, Les Walker and James Lee were sentenced to 18-year prison terms in 2001. Two others – Scot Sandy Mitchell and William Sampson – received death sentences.
All had consistently proclaimed their innocence and claimed that videotaped 'confessions' had been made under duress.
The series of bombings in Saudi Arabia culminated in November 2000 with the death of Briton Christopher Rodway.
The bomb campaign which had been ongoing for nearly a year at the time of Mr Roway's death, injured several Western ex-pats.
(GMcG)
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