60 Minutes case: Family members of detained Channel Nine team release joint statement

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This was published 7 years ago

60 Minutes case: Family members of detained Channel Nine team release joint statement

By Lucy Cormack
Updated

Families of the 60 Minutes crew detained in Lebanon have described the situation as a "living nightmare," as they struggle to tell their children "when mummy or daddy is coming home".

60 Minutes journalist Tara Brown and her crew, Benjamin Williamson, David Ballment and Stephen Rice, were arrested in Beirut on April 7.

The crew and Australian mother Sally Faulkner remain in jail, facing kidnapping charges after they allegedly tried to retrieve the children from their father and Ms Faulkner's estranged husband Ali Elamine.

The statement from their families comes as talks between Ms Faulkner and her estranged husband Ali Elamine break down over the custody arrangements of their two children Lahala, 6, and Noah, 4.

The 60 Minutes team in custody in Lebanon: Tara Brown, David "Tangles" Ballment, Stephen Rice and Ben Williamson.

The 60 Minutes team in custody in Lebanon: Tara Brown, David "Tangles" Ballment, Stephen Rice and Ben Williamson.

In a joint statement issued by Cara Williamson, Denise Rice, John McAvoy and Laura Battistel - the partners of the Channel Nine crew - they said some were still yet to tell their children what was happening.

"It's not an easy conversation to have with a five or seven year old who ask as they go to sleep each night when mummy or daddy is coming home," the statement said.

"Our natural instinct was to fly over and be there for them. Immediately. But our desire to be over there, possibly see them for ourselves and to give them our love and support has to be balanced against the advice from the people on the ground and that's to stay here."

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The statement highlighted that any suggestion the crew's families were not receiving regular updates was "beyond absurd".

Sally Faulkner with her two children Lahala, 6, and Noah, 4, in Beirut after the child recovery operation.

Sally Faulkner with her two children Lahala, 6, and Noah, 4, in Beirut after the child recovery operation.

"Nine is sharing whatever it knows as they hear about it. It is a day by day proposition, complicated by the fact that there is so little to go on and of course none of us are familiar with the Lebanese legal system," they said.

"People forget that Tara, Stephen, Ben and Tangles were there doing a job; covering a story. As it turns out, a very important story. It's what they do. It's what they have been doing brilliantly for years. Obviously, this time, something went wrong."

Ali Elamine with his children Lahala, 6, and Noah, 4.

Ali Elamine with his children Lahala, 6, and Noah, 4. Credit: Facebook

In the statement, partners of the crew asked for "people who have been so quick to judge ... wait until all the facts are known."

"We haven't spoken to our partners since before they were arrested. Very few of the facts are clear at this stage. If we don't have all the facts, how can anyone else?"

People who have been so quick to judge ... wait until all the facts are known.

A joint statement from family members of detained 60 Minutes team

Right now, the statement said, the only priority is getting them all home.

The four 60 Minutes employees and Ms Faulkner are among a total of seven people facing charges over the incident.

The two others are believed to be members of the child recovery agency hired for the operation. They have been named in the Lebanese media as Britons Craig Michael and Adam Whittington.

Lawyers negotiating on behalf of Ms Faulkner and Mr Elamine have reportedly failed to reach an agreement.

It is also believed Mr Elamine has not expressed an interest in dropping charges against the 60 Minutes team amid allegations the Nine Network contributed $115,000 to the child recovery operation.

The network has refused to comment on the allegations.

The hearing returns to court in Beirut on Monday.

with AAP

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