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Prince Charles instrumental in freeing Sampson: U.K. papers

Last Updated: Monday, August 11, 2003 | 10:15 AM ET

CBC News

Prince Charles played a pivotal role in helping Canadian William Sampson and five Britons gain their freedom in Saudi Arabia, British newspapers reported on Sunday.

INDEPTH: The William Sampson story

The papers say Prince Charles contacted senior members of the Saudi government and repeatedly demanded the mens' release.

William Sampson (centre) (AP PHOTO)

Sampson, 44, and the others were held in a Saudi prison for more than two years on allegations that they carried out several bombings in 2000 and 2001 in Riyadh that left one person dead and several others injured.

FROM Aug. 9, 2003: Canadian facing death in Saudi Arabia set free

The Saudis said the men were involved in an alcohol bootlegging ring, and the bombings were part of a turf war.

Sampson and Briton Alexander Mitchell were sentenced to death after their taped confessions were televised across the world.

Western and British diplomats have maintained that their confessions were coerced.

Sampson was granted clemency by Saudi King Fahd and freed from prison on August 8, 2003.

This story is now closed to commenting.

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