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An Alberta judge has ruled in favour of Omar Khadr’s request to effectively end his eight-year sentence for the killing of a U.S. soldier.

Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench Chief Justice Mary Moreau made the ruling Monday morning in Edmonton, as family and supporters of Khadr cried and hugged each other when the decision was read out. Khadr was seeking the 3-1/2 years remaining on his 2010 youth sentence to be reduced to one day as he awaits a decision in his U.S. appeal.

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“I’m really happy with the decision today,” said Khadr outside the courthouse. “It’s been a while but I’m happy it’s here. Right now I’m just going to try to focus on recovering and not worrying about having to go back to prison.”

He was granted bail in 2015 after appealing his conviction for the killing of American special forces officer Christopher Speer, killed during a firefight in Afghanistan when Khadr was 15. His eight-year sentence stopped counting down when bail was granted but the appeal has not yet been heard. Without bail, Khadr’s sentence would have ended in October.