Packed court cheers as David McBride granted chance to appeal sentence for leaking defence secrets

Former army lawyer will appeal on the basis he believed it was his duty to release information in the public interest

• Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates
• Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast

David McBride has been granted the chance to appeal against his jail sentence for his role in leaking secret defence documents about alleged war crimes in Afghanistan after launching a late court application.

On Wednesday morning the former army lawyer appeared in the ACT supreme court in a bid to file an appeal outside the usual 28-day window from verdict.

Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email