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'Friendly fire' widow's Bush plea | 'Friendly fire' widow's Bush plea |
(20 minutes later) | |
British "friendly fire" victim Matty Hull's widow has appealed to US President George Bush to help find out the truth about her husband's death. | British "friendly fire" victim Matty Hull's widow has appealed to US President George Bush to help find out the truth about her husband's death. |
Susan Hull, 30, said when she met Mr Bush in November 2003 he asked if there was anything he could do to help. | Susan Hull, 30, said when she met Mr Bush in November 2003 he asked if there was anything he could do to help. |
An inquest is being held into how the 25-year-old Lance Corporal of Horse died under fire from a US A-10 "Tank Buster" plane in southern Iraq. | |
Mrs Hull said: "He assured me that he would do all he could to help." | Mrs Hull said: "He assured me that he would do all he could to help." |
In a statement outside the inquest in Oxford she continued: "President Bush, this is the last day you can help us. We ask that you give the coroner just one single page." | In a statement outside the inquest in Oxford she continued: "President Bush, this is the last day you can help us. We ask that you give the coroner just one single page." |
'Repeated requests' | 'Repeated requests' |
The Hull family believes key information was blacked out of a US Friendly Fire Investigation Board Report given to the coroner investigating his death on 28 March 2003. | The Hull family believes key information was blacked out of a US Friendly Fire Investigation Board Report given to the coroner investigating his death on 28 March 2003. |
The MoD had previously refused the let a US cockpit video showing L/Cpl's death be used at the inquest, but changed its mind after the tape was leaked to the Sun newspaper. | The MoD had previously refused the let a US cockpit video showing L/Cpl's death be used at the inquest, but changed its mind after the tape was leaked to the Sun newspaper. |
Mrs Hull, standing alongside L/Cpl Hull's mother, Mandy, 46, his father, Richard, 50, and his sister, Lauren McCourt, 18, appealed for the rest of the document to be handed over. | Mrs Hull, standing alongside L/Cpl Hull's mother, Mandy, 46, his father, Richard, 50, and his sister, Lauren McCourt, 18, appealed for the rest of the document to be handed over. |
Susan Hull believes key information was removed from a report | Susan Hull believes key information was removed from a report |
She said: "The coroner has asked twice for this document, following conflicting suggestions from the Ministry of Defence regarding what evidence was in his possession. | She said: "The coroner has asked twice for this document, following conflicting suggestions from the Ministry of Defence regarding what evidence was in his possession. |
"Despite the coroner's repeated requests, he still does not have it. | "Despite the coroner's repeated requests, he still does not have it. |
"We have 1,110 lines of evidence from this document - but 11 are blanked out. | "We have 1,110 lines of evidence from this document - but 11 are blanked out. |
"To President Bush and the US Government - we implore you to release the 11 lines and let the coroner have these today, so that our family can feel more satisfied with the transparency of this inquest." | "To President Bush and the US Government - we implore you to release the 11 lines and let the coroner have these today, so that our family can feel more satisfied with the transparency of this inquest." |
The inquest into L/Cpl Hull's death has already been told how the ground controller, codenamed Manilla Hotel, was "gobsmacked" that one of two A10 planes under his control had attacked a British armoured vehicles convoy instead of their intended target. | The inquest into L/Cpl Hull's death has already been told how the ground controller, codenamed Manilla Hotel, was "gobsmacked" that one of two A10 planes under his control had attacked a British armoured vehicles convoy instead of their intended target. |
Manilla Hotel had given no permission to open fire on this target, British Forward Air Controller Stuart Matthews told Oxfordshire Assistant Deputy Coroner Andrew Walker. | Manilla Hotel had given no permission to open fire on this target, British Forward Air Controller Stuart Matthews told Oxfordshire Assistant Deputy Coroner Andrew Walker. |
Mr Walker has this week repeatedly renewed his requests for what he said was "vital" further information but so far these have been turned down. | Mr Walker has this week repeatedly renewed his requests for what he said was "vital" further information but so far these have been turned down. |
Mrs Hull's legal team were on the phone until the early hours to the US embassy and other American authorities trying to get them to change their mind. | Mrs Hull's legal team were on the phone until the early hours to the US embassy and other American authorities trying to get them to change their mind. |
Solicitor Geraldine McCool said Mrs Hull was not asking to see the documents herself - only that the coroner could access them. | Solicitor Geraldine McCool said Mrs Hull was not asking to see the documents herself - only that the coroner could access them. |
She added: "Can you imagine how frustrating this is for the family? We have the feeling that we are being treated differently." | She added: "Can you imagine how frustrating this is for the family? We have the feeling that we are being treated differently." |
The inquest is expected to last until Friday. | The inquest is expected to last until Friday. |