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UK soldiers cleared of Iraq abuse | UK soldiers cleared of Iraq abuse |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Charges have been dropped against five out of seven soldiers on trial for abusing Iraqi civilians. | |
Col Jorge Mendonca, the highest-ranking British serviceman to face court martial, was cleared of all charges along with three of his men. | |
A fifth soldier who had admitted mistreating Iraqi detainees in Basra was cleared of further charges. | |
The Bulford Camp trial is dealing with allegations soldiers abused detainees in 2003, resulting in an Iraqi death. | |
Col Mendonca, former commander of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment (QLR), had faced charges of negligently performing a duty at the Wiltshire court martial. | |
The 43-year-old, who was rewarded for his service in the Gulf with a DSO (distinguished service order), had been accused of failing to ensure his men did not ill-treat Iraqi detainees in Basra in September 2003. | |
'Worked hard' | |
After his acquittal, he said he remained convinced his soldiers did "enormous good" in Iraq and that it was a privilege to have been a commander. | |
Col Mendonca said: "I remain convinced that Queen's Lancashire did enormous good in the city of Basra in 2003," he said. | |
"Every one of my soldiers and officers worked extremely hard under indescribably difficult conditions to make Basra a better place, and I just hope that fact is not forgotten in the aftermath of this trial." | |
CHARGES IN FULL Col Jorge Mendonca - cleared of negligently performing a dutySgt Kelvin Stacey - cleared of common assault L/Cpl Wayne Crowcroft - cleared of inhumane treatment Pte Darren Fallon - cleared of inhumane treatment Cpl Donald Payne - admitted inhumane treatment, cleared of manslaughter and perverting the course of justiceWarrant Officer Mark Davies - charged with negligently performing a dutyMaj Michael Peebles - charged with negligently performing a duty | |
It was claimed that some of the colonel's men abused the group of Iraqis after their arrest during a counter-insurgency operation. | It was claimed that some of the colonel's men abused the group of Iraqis after their arrest during a counter-insurgency operation. |
They had been arrested on 14 September at the Haitham Hotel, Basra, where the army had found weapons including rifles, bayonets and suspected bomb-making equipment. | They had been arrested on 14 September at the Haitham Hotel, Basra, where the army had found weapons including rifles, bayonets and suspected bomb-making equipment. |
The trial centred on claims that the detainees were taken to a temporary detention centre where they were held for 36 hours and repeatedly beaten while handcuffed and forced to wear sacks on their heads. | |
Baha Mousa, 26, was among the group of detainees and later died. | |
Mr Justice Stuart McKinnon, sitting at the court martial, requested the court panel - the military equivalent of a jury - acquit the five soldiers of charges after "no case to answer" submissions from their legal teams. | |
Sergeant Kelvin Stacey, 30, of the QLR, was cleared of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault. | Sergeant Kelvin Stacey, 30, of the QLR, was cleared of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault. |
Hotel receptionist Baha Mousa died in custody in 2003 | |
And L/Cpl Wayne Crowcroft, 22, and Private Darren Fallon, 23, both of the QLR, now merged with the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, were both cleared of treating Iraqis inhumanely. | And L/Cpl Wayne Crowcroft, 22, and Private Darren Fallon, 23, both of the QLR, now merged with the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, were both cleared of treating Iraqis inhumanely. |
It was the first time this charge was brought against British servicemen under the International Criminal Court Act 2001. | It was the first time this charge was brought against British servicemen under the International Criminal Court Act 2001. |
The fifth soldier, Cpl Donald Payne, 35, of the QLR, had became the first British soldier to admit to a war crime after pleading guilty to inhumanely treating civilian Iraqi detainees at the start of the trial. | The fifth soldier, Cpl Donald Payne, 35, of the QLR, had became the first British soldier to admit to a war crime after pleading guilty to inhumanely treating civilian Iraqi detainees at the start of the trial. |
But he was cleared of Mr Musa's manslaughter and a further charge of perverting the course of justice. | But he was cleared of Mr Musa's manslaughter and a further charge of perverting the course of justice. |
However, "no case" applications made on behalf of two of the other soldiers were dismissed by the judge. | However, "no case" applications made on behalf of two of the other soldiers were dismissed by the judge. |
Maj Michael Peebles, 35, and Warrant Officer Mark Davies, 37, both of the Intelligence Corps, remain on trial. | Maj Michael Peebles, 35, and Warrant Officer Mark Davies, 37, both of the Intelligence Corps, remain on trial. |
They both deny charges of negligently performing the duty of ensuring the Iraqis were not ill-treated by men under their command. | They both deny charges of negligently performing the duty of ensuring the Iraqis were not ill-treated by men under their command. |