This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/6453365.stm
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 8 | Version 9 |
---|---|
'Friendly fire' widow's Bush plea | 'Friendly fire' widow's Bush plea |
(about 7 hours later) | |
The widow of UK "friendly fire" victim Matty Hull has appealed to US President George Bush to help find out the truth about her husband's death in Iraq. | |
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 Lance Corporal of Horse, from Berkshire, was killed by a US plane. | |
Mrs Hull asked Mr Bush to give the coroner "one single page" from a US report on the incident. | |
L/Cpl Hull, of Windsor, died 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. | |
Mrs Hull, standing outside the inquest in Oxford 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. | |
Matty Hull died in an attack by US A10 warplanes | Matty Hull died in an attack by US A10 warplanes |
"President Bush, this is the last day you can help us. We ask that you give the coroner just one single page," 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." |
Repeated requests | |
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 "tank buster" 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." |
US authorities had previously refused to allow a cockpit video showing L/Cpl Hull's death to be used at the inquest. | |
But they relented after the tape was leaked to the Sun newspaper. | |
The inquest is expected to last until Friday. | The inquest is expected to last until Friday. |