来自黄金海岸的20岁澳大利亚人帕特里克·史蒂文森被控于12月31日在叙利亚伊德利卜省Darkush镇用AK-47步枪射杀同为澳大利亚公民的阿卜杜拉·格伦·伯吉斯[1]。伯吉斯时年40岁[1]。史蒂文森因谋杀罪名被控，该罪名在叙利亚可判处死刑[1]。他目前被拘禁在伊德利卜省萨迈达监狱，已被关押超过6个月[1]。
根据叙利亚法律，如果伯吉斯的遗孀阿玛图拉·劳里·邓纳姆宽恕史蒂文森或接受血钱赔偿，他可能免于死刑[1]。死刑需经过最高上诉法院审查、特赦委员会考虑和总统批准[1]。叙利亚法律人士告诉澳大利亚广播公司，法院做出裁决可能需要长达一年的时间[1]。
叙利亚当局初期曾调查史蒂文森与伊斯兰国是否有关联，但后来确定该杀害与恐怖组织无关[1]。澳大利亚外交贸易部向史蒂文森家人通报，叙利亚政府在该案中的参与度很低[1]。澳大利亚在叙利亚没有大使馆或领事馆[1]。史蒂文森于2023年高中最后一年皈依伊斯兰教，10月10日离开黄金海岸前往巴厘岛，随后赴叙利亚[1]。
Patrick Stevenson, a 20-year-old from the Gold Coast, has been detained in Syria's Idlib Province for over six months and faces a murder charge in connection with the death of fellow Australian Abdullah Glen Burgess on December 31.[1] Stevenson is accused of shooting Burgess at least eight times with an AK-47 rifle in the town of Darkush.[1] Under Syrian law, the murder charge carries a potential death sentence, though the penalty requires review by the Court of Cassation, consideration by a clemency committee, and presidential approval.[1]
The outcome of Stevenson's case may depend on the actions of Burgess's widow, Amatullah Laurie Duniam.[1] Under Syrian legal provisions, if she chooses to forgive Stevenson or accepts financial compensation known as blood money, he could be spared execution.[1] Syrian legal sources indicated the court process could take up to a year to reach a verdict.[1]
Stevenson converted to Islam during his final year of high school in 2023 and left the Gold Coast on October 10 for Bali before traveling to Syria.[1] Initial investigations by Syrian authorities examined whether Stevenson had ties to Islamic State, but determined the killing was unrelated to terrorist organizations.[1] Australia maintains no embassy or consulate in Syria, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade informed Stevenson's family that the Syrian government has minimal involvement in the case.[1]