Lead
The family of a 20-year-old Gold Coast man facing a possible death penalty in Syria for the alleged shooting murder of another Australian has publicly expressed frustration at the lack of progress made by the federal government in the case.
Patrick Stevenson has been detained for nearly seven months in north-western Syria, accused of the shooting murder of Abdullah Glen Charles Burgess, a 40-year-old Australian citizen from northern New South Wales. Syrian authorities allege Mr Stevenson confessed to firing at least eight shots from an AK-47 at Mr Burgess inside the victim's home in the town of Darkush on December 31.
Coverage Comparison
ABC Australia, the only news organisation whose coverage of this story is available, has reported extensively on the case. In one report, the broadcaster detailed Mr Stevenson's detention in Idlib province, his alleged confession, and the circumstances surrounding Mr Burgess's death. In another report, ABC's 7.30 program interviewed Mr Stevenson's mother, Angela Bell, who voiced disappointment with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and questioned the fairness of any trial.
Both reports confirm the core facts of the case: Mr Stevenson faces a charge of premeditated murder, an offence punishable by death in Syria, and has been held for more than six months. They differ slightly in their emphasis, with one focusing on the family's frustration and the other on the broader context of radicalisation and terrorism concerns.
Key Claims
Patrick Stevenson, a Muslim convert with learning disorders, ADHD, and suspected autism spectrum disorder, travelled to Syria last October. ABC reports that he became radicalised on the Gold Coast. The mayor of a nearby village in Idlib province told ABC that Darkush had become a stronghold for Australian former fighters and Islamists.
Authorities initially investigated whether Mr Stevenson had links to the Islamic State group (IS) but later concluded that the killing was not linked to the terrorist group, according to information provided to his family by Australian officials and his legal team.
Mr Burgess, a tree lopper from the village of Eltham near Lismore, moved to Syria with his Australian wife and their daughters last year after spending at least six months travelling through Afghanistan. People who knew the two men said Mr Burgess took Mr Stevenson under his wing late last year and that they became close in the lead-up to the killing.
According to Syrian authorities, Mr Burgess's wife and daughters were in another room when he was shot but were not physically injured. Mr Burgess's widow, Amatullah Laurie Duniam, could spare Mr Stevenson from execution by granting him forgiveness under Syria's legal system, or she could accept a payment of blood money, known as diya.
Family's Concerns
Mr Stevenson's mother, Angela Bell, told the ABC that Australian officials had said diplomatic efforts had gone nowhere. She expressed disappointment with her dealings with DFAT, saying: "They say … that their policy is that he shouldn't have been travelling to Syria … and that's where the conversation gets stuck."
"They use the word 'limited' a lot. They don't use the word failure, but basically the sense is they … have limited capacity to help in this situation," she said.
Ms Bell also raised concerns about the alleged confession, noting that not a single document had come from Syria explaining the charges. "Not a single document has come from Syria explaining the charges," she said. The family and Mr Stevenson's Australian legal team say they do not know how the confession was obtained and have serious concerns about whether he will receive a fair trial and about his welfare in Sarmada prison.