Seraphim
08-08-2003, 12:59 PM
http://www.cbc.ca/storyview/MSN/2003/08/08/sampson_release030808
http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/photos/sampson_william021212.jpg
William Sampson
LONDON - William Sampson, the Vancouver man jailed for two years in Saudi Arabia on bombing-related charges, has been released.
Sampson and his five British co-accused arrived in Britain by plane Friday afternoon.
Sampson's cousin, also called William, was waiting to meet him at London's Heathrow airport.
"Bill is being released. Thank God for that," said Sampson's cousin.
"The family … is very, very pleased that Billy is being released after 2½ years in solitary confinement," he said.
Sampson's family believes that during that period he was tortured and say they have the medical records to prove it.
Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham confirmed Sampson's release saying,"This marks the end of en extremely difficult period for Mr. Sampson and his family."
Sampson and five British citizens were convicted of carrying out several bombings in 2000 and 2001.
Sampson was sentenced to death by Saudi authorities, as was British citizen Alexander Mitchell. The method of their execution would have likely been public beheading.
Saudi King Fahd granted clemency to the six men.
One of the survivors of the Saudi bombings, David Brown, said he's surprised and pleased that Sampson and the Britons have been released.
Sampson's lawyer and family have been pursuing an appeal in Saudi Arabia's highest court to have him released.
His family has argued that the taped confessions of three of the men, which were shown on Saudi television, were coerced.
Western diplomats have suggested the bombings were carried out by Muslim extremists, and the charges against the men were laid in an effort to cover up the activities of such groups inside Saudi Arabia.
The Saudis said the men were involved in an alcohol bootlegging ring, and the bombings were part of a turf war.
http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/photos/sampson_william021212.jpg
William Sampson
LONDON - William Sampson, the Vancouver man jailed for two years in Saudi Arabia on bombing-related charges, has been released.
Sampson and his five British co-accused arrived in Britain by plane Friday afternoon.
Sampson's cousin, also called William, was waiting to meet him at London's Heathrow airport.
"Bill is being released. Thank God for that," said Sampson's cousin.
"The family … is very, very pleased that Billy is being released after 2½ years in solitary confinement," he said.
Sampson's family believes that during that period he was tortured and say they have the medical records to prove it.
Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham confirmed Sampson's release saying,"This marks the end of en extremely difficult period for Mr. Sampson and his family."
Sampson and five British citizens were convicted of carrying out several bombings in 2000 and 2001.
Sampson was sentenced to death by Saudi authorities, as was British citizen Alexander Mitchell. The method of their execution would have likely been public beheading.
Saudi King Fahd granted clemency to the six men.
One of the survivors of the Saudi bombings, David Brown, said he's surprised and pleased that Sampson and the Britons have been released.
Sampson's lawyer and family have been pursuing an appeal in Saudi Arabia's highest court to have him released.
His family has argued that the taped confessions of three of the men, which were shown on Saudi television, were coerced.
Western diplomats have suggested the bombings were carried out by Muslim extremists, and the charges against the men were laid in an effort to cover up the activities of such groups inside Saudi Arabia.
The Saudis said the men were involved in an alcohol bootlegging ring, and the bombings were part of a turf war.