Families want death penalty to be carried out for Diggers’ assassin
The families of three Australian Diggers fear their killer may be released as part of a historic peace deal.
The families of three Australian Diggers killed by a rogue Afghan National Army sergeant have pleaded with the Australian government to ensure the killer is not released as part of a historic peace deal that could see up to 5000 Taliban prisoners walk free.
Hugh Poate, whose son, Robert, was killed when Sergeant Hekmatullah opened fire on Australian soldiers in a so-called ‘’green-on-blue’’ attack in 2012, said he feared justice for his son’s murder could become a casualty of Trump administration peace negotiations with the Taliban.
Private Robert Poate, Lance Corporal Stjepan “Rick” Milosevic, 40, and Sapper James Martin, 21, were killed after Hekmatullah opened fire on them as they played cards at a forward operating base north of Australia’s main base at Tarin Kowt. Two other Australian soldiers were wounded in the attack.
As part of a deal being negotiated between Washington and the Taliban, the Afghan government is to release 5000 Taliban prisoners in exchange for 1000 Afghan security force prisoners.
Mr Poate said he feared Hekmatullah might be among those set free. “The Taliban have already indicated that they want their senior commanders who have been responsible for killings of infidels released, and he killed three,’’ he said.
He said Hekmatullah’s original sentence — death by hanging — was never carried out, elevating concern that Hekmatullah’s release was only a matter of time.
“I want this bastard to be hanged,’’ Mr Poate said. “We all do. That was the sentence, I want Afghan law to be carried out and it hasn’t. Why not is an open question to the minister.’’
The hunt for Hekmatullah became the overriding priority for the Australian Defence Force in the aftermath of the killing.
Australia’s military and intelligence agencies feared that Hekmatullah was headed for Pakistan, sparking a frantic race to get him before he crossed the border. Every SASR patrol in the country was tasked with killing or capturing the rogue gunman and every asset, such as helicopters and intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance drones, was given over to the hunt.
Hekmatullah was arrested by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence and held in detention for six months before being handed over to Afghan authorities.
An Afghan court sentenced him to death.
Kelly Walton, the partner of Lance Corporal Milosevic, said she spent seven years worrying that Hekmatullah would cheat justice. “Right from the time he was apprehended and not killed immediately, it has always been my fear that he will get out on a prisoner swap or some kind of agreement with the Taliban,’’ Ms Walton told The Australian.
“Really, the only assurance we can get is his execution.’’
Suzanne Thomas, the mother of Sapper Martin, said she too would like to see the death sentence carried out. “The sentence was considered and it was relevant and reasonable,’’ she said.
“A lot of the people there at the time would like to see it happen.’’
A spokeswoman for the ADF said the Australian government had received assurances from the Afghan government it was “fully seized’’ of the importance of keeping Hekmatullah locked up.
William Maley, of the Australian National University, said the prisoner swap clause had been foisted on the Afghan government by Washington and enjoyed little support in Kabul: “If Hekmatullah is ever released, it will be entirely the responsibility of the US.’’
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