Australian sentenced to death in Kabul

A former Australian soldier has been sentence to death in Afghanistan for murdering an Afghan security guard and then accusing the Taliban for the crime.

Robert William Langdon, 38, was arrested in May last year when working as a security contractor in Kabul.

He was employed by Four Horsemen International, a US-based contractor that specialises in hiring former US and foreign special forces for guard duties in Afghanistan.

On 4 May last year, Mr Langdon assisted a supply convoy that had been attacked that night by Taliban insurgents reports The Australian.

The convoy was protected by sixty Afghan and expatriate guards.

Karim was as the Afghan team leader and Mr Langdon was the expatriate team leader.

When the convoy reached the Wardak provincial capital of Maidan Shar, 40km from Kabul at around 3am, Karim refused to continue, saying the road ahead was too dangerous says the Australian publication.

A violent argument then ensued before Mr Langdon allegedly shot Karim four times in both the head and body.

In court, Mr Langdon admitted killing Karim but said he fired in self-defence because Karim was reaching for his pistol.

"I didn't have time to think. We had just been hit (by the Taliban). We didn't know what was happening and everyone was antsy," Mr Langdon said.

But Langdon's justification was undermined by his attempts to cover up the crime by throwing a hand grenade into the truck containing Karim's body and then ordering the convoy's guards to fire into the air so that it would appear that Karim had been killed in a Taliban attack says The Australian.

Mr Langdon then told his fellow guards to continue to their destination.

He however, returned to Kabul, emptied $US10,000 (NZ$14,130) from his local bank account and bought a ticket to Dubai.

He was arrested at the airport as he tried to board the flight.

In court Mr Langdon said he tried to create a false explanation of Karim's death because he was confused.

Although sentenced to death there is a chance that his life will be spared.

After rejecting his appeal, Judge Abdul Khalil Modafe told Langdon he must try to obtain forgiveness from his victim's family.

"Because you are a young person, we are going to help you. If you could try to get the family to agree to forgiveness we can attach it to your case so when it goes to the (Supreme Court) it will help you," said the judge.

Mr Modafe said forgiveness was an important part of Afghan culture.

"You must convince them," he said.

His family is now trying to raise money to persuade Karim's family to formally ask the Supreme Court in Kabul to spare Langdon's life.

The Australian understands Afghan lawyers acting for Langdon are close to reaching a settlement with the victim's family which could lead to authorities freeing the Australian.

- NZ HERALD STAFF