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'Concerns' over Iraq abuse trial | 'Concerns' over Iraq abuse trial |
(30 minutes later) | |
The attorney general says he has concerns about the failed prosecution of British soldiers charged with the abuse of Iraqi civilians. | The attorney general says he has concerns about the failed prosecution of British soldiers charged with the abuse of Iraqi civilians. |
Lord Goldsmith told the BBC there were issues about the "capacity of the investigators" and the "lack of clarity" about detainee treatment. | Lord Goldsmith told the BBC there were issues about the "capacity of the investigators" and the "lack of clarity" about detainee treatment. |
All charges were dropped against four out of seven soldiers on trial over the allegations and two were later cleared. | All charges were dropped against four out of seven soldiers on trial over the allegations and two were later cleared. |
The claims arose after the death of an Iraqi detainee in September 2003. | The claims arose after the death of an Iraqi detainee in September 2003. |
Resources 'needed' | Resources 'needed' |
Lord Goldsmith told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he had "concerns about the capacity of the investigators" which he had raised with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) two years ago. | Lord Goldsmith told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he had "concerns about the capacity of the investigators" which he had raised with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) two years ago. |
The investigation and trial took three years, with a reported cost of £20m - making it the UK's costliest ever court martial. | The investigation and trial took three years, with a reported cost of £20m - making it the UK's costliest ever court martial. |
"We do need to be sure that the investigators have all the tools and the resources, not only to conduct professional and independent investigations, but to do so quickly and that's a point that's been made, I think, rightly by a number of people," Lord Goldsmith said. | "We do need to be sure that the investigators have all the tools and the resources, not only to conduct professional and independent investigations, but to do so quickly and that's a point that's been made, I think, rightly by a number of people," Lord Goldsmith said. |
He said that the trial also showed that there was an "apparent confusion" or "lack of clarity" about guidance given to troops regarding the treatment of detainees. | He said that the trial also showed that there was an "apparent confusion" or "lack of clarity" about guidance given to troops regarding the treatment of detainees. |
Col Jorge Mendonca was cleared of negligently performing a duty | Col Jorge Mendonca was cleared of negligently performing a duty |
"That's not fair to them, and it's not fair to the detainees, too," he added. | "That's not fair to them, and it's not fair to the detainees, too," he added. |
Last month, Col Jorge Mendonca, former commander of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment and the highest-ranking British serviceman in recent history to face court martial, had all charges dropped against him, along with three of his men. | Last month, Col Jorge Mendonca, former commander of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment and the highest-ranking British serviceman in recent history to face court martial, had all charges dropped against him, along with three of his men. |
And on Tuesday Maj Michael Peebles, 35, and Warrant Officer Mark Davies, 37, both of the Intelligence Corps, were cleared of negligently performing their duty. | And on Tuesday Maj Michael Peebles, 35, and Warrant Officer Mark Davies, 37, both of the Intelligence Corps, were cleared of negligently performing their duty. |
The six-month court martial at Bulford Camp in Wiltshire dealt with claims the colonel's men abused a group of Iraqis arrested at a Basra hotel, which resulted in the death of hotel receptionist Baha Mousa, 26. | The six-month court martial at Bulford Camp in Wiltshire dealt with claims the colonel's men abused a group of Iraqis arrested at a Basra hotel, which resulted in the death of hotel receptionist Baha Mousa, 26. |
Cpl Donald Payne, 35, who admitted treating Iraqis inhumanely, is the only soldier to have been convicted at the end of the six-month hearing. | Cpl Donald Payne, 35, who admitted treating Iraqis inhumanely, is the only soldier to have been convicted at the end of the six-month hearing. |
He was cleared of manslaughter and of perverting the course of justice and is awaiting sentencing. | He was cleared of manslaughter and of perverting the course of justice and is awaiting sentencing. |
In a statement to the BBC, the MoD said: "Investigating crime in Iraq is not without difficulty; given the significant cultural differences arising from the Islamic faith and the influence of tribal custom over and above the obvious language difficulties." | |
It added that the hostile operational environment added to the difficulties of conducting investigations. |
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