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Coroner 'to show cockpit video' | Coroner 'to show cockpit video' |
(10 minutes later) | |
The cockpit video at the heart of a row over the "friendly fire" death of a British soldier could now be shown at his inquest, a coroner's official says. | The cockpit video at the heart of a row over the "friendly fire" death of a British soldier could now be shown at his inquest, a coroner's official says. |
Lance Corporal of Horse Matty Hull, 25, from Berks, was killed in Iraq in 2003. | Lance Corporal of Horse Matty Hull, 25, from Berks, was killed in Iraq in 2003. |
The video, reportedly obtained by the Sun newspaper, is said to show the US aircraft attack on a British convoy. | The video, reportedly obtained by the Sun newspaper, is said to show the US aircraft attack on a British convoy. |
Clerk Geoff Webb said coroner Andrew Walker felt that, as the video was now in the public domain, it could be shown when the inquest resumes in March. | |
The video was classified "secret" by the US, but minister Harriet Harman says she wants all evidence to be made available. | |
The coroner has been shown a copy of the footage from the cockpit by the Ministry of Defence but does not have it. | |
Mr Webb told the BBC the Sun has promised to give the coroner's court a copy of the video. | |
At the start of the attack in the Sun video, one pilot notices orange panels on the vehicles and asks whether there could be any friendly units in the area. | At the start of the attack in the Sun video, one pilot notices orange panels on the vehicles and asks whether there could be any friendly units in the area. |
His command gives assurances there are no coalition forces in the area. | His command gives assurances there are no coalition forces in the area. |
We're in jail, dude American pilot on tape | We're in jail, dude American pilot on tape |
Pilots open fire but soon the error is realised and they are informed that friendly units were in the area. | Pilots open fire but soon the error is realised and they are informed that friendly units were in the area. |
They are told: "Abort your mission. You got a, looks we might have a blue-on-blue situation [a friendly fire incident]." | They are told: "Abort your mission. You got a, looks we might have a blue-on-blue situation [a friendly fire incident]." |
An air controller on the ground says: "We are getting an initial brief that there was one killed and one wounded, over." | An air controller on the ground says: "We are getting an initial brief that there was one killed and one wounded, over." |
One pilot replies: "Copy. RTB [return to base]." A colleague says: "I'm going to be sick." | One pilot replies: "Copy. RTB [return to base]." A colleague says: "I'm going to be sick." |
They then talk about the possibility of being jailed for carrying out the attack. | They then talk about the possibility of being jailed for carrying out the attack. |
'Weeping' | 'Weeping' |
The first pilot says: "Did you hear?" His colleague replies: "Yeah, this sucks." | The first pilot says: "Did you hear?" His colleague replies: "Yeah, this sucks." |
"We're in jail, dude," says the first. | "We're in jail, dude," says the first. |
The other pilot is audibly upset, saying: "God dammit". | The other pilot is audibly upset, saying: "God dammit". |
The row erupted last week when Oxfordshire Assistant Deputy Coroner Andrew Walker launched a furious attack on the MoD for failing to provide a copy of the tape. | |
In a statement, the MoD said it had been given a copy of the video by the US government for its own investigation into the incident. | |
"This recording is the property of the United States government and the MoD does not have the right to release it without their permission." | |
The deputy chief of mission at the US Embassy in London, David Johnson, said it was considering de-classifying the video if the military considered it would not put forces at risk in future. | |
The Sun has released footage to television and radio stations, but is not giving other websites permission to use clips. | The Sun has released footage to television and radio stations, but is not giving other websites permission to use clips. |
It is not known who leaked the video to the newspaper, but the US government has suggested it is likely to have been a criminal act. | It is not known who leaked the video to the newspaper, but the US government has suggested it is likely to have been a criminal act. |