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| 'Friendly fire' killing unlawful | 'Friendly fire' killing unlawful |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The death of a UK soldier when a US pilot fired on his convoy in Iraq was unlawful, a coroner has ruled. | The death of a UK soldier when a US pilot fired on his convoy in Iraq was unlawful, a coroner has ruled. |
| The "friendly fire" incident which killed Lance Corporal Matty Hull, 25, amounted to a criminal act, he said. | The "friendly fire" incident which killed Lance Corporal Matty Hull, 25, amounted to a criminal act, he said. |
| Andrew Walker said the 2003 death was "entirely avoidable" and L/Cpl Hull's widow said the verdict was "right". | Andrew Walker said the 2003 death was "entirely avoidable" and L/Cpl Hull's widow said the verdict was "right". |
| The Ministry of Defence apologised for a delay in releasing film from the US A-10 plane. The Pentagon offered the Hull family its "deepest sympathies". | The Ministry of Defence apologised for a delay in releasing film from the US A-10 plane. The Pentagon offered the Hull family its "deepest sympathies". |
| 'Painful time' | 'Painful time' |
| In delivering his verdict, Mr Walker said: "The attack on the convoy amounted to an assault. | In delivering his verdict, Mr Walker said: "The attack on the convoy amounted to an assault. |
| "It was unlawful because there was no lawful reason for it and in that respect it was criminal." | "It was unlawful because there was no lawful reason for it and in that respect it was criminal." |
| Four other soldiers were injured in the attack near Basra | Four other soldiers were injured in the attack near Basra |
| No American witnesses gave evidence at the inquest and the coroner was critical of the failure of the US authorities to co-operate. | No American witnesses gave evidence at the inquest and the coroner was critical of the failure of the US authorities to co-operate. |
| "I believe that the full facts have not yet come to light," said the Oxford assistant deputy coroner. | "I believe that the full facts have not yet come to light," said the Oxford assistant deputy coroner. |
| The US pilots should have flown lower to confirm identities before opening fire, he added. | The US pilots should have flown lower to confirm identities before opening fire, he added. |
| "I don't think this was a case of honest mistake." | "I don't think this was a case of honest mistake." |
| Speaking after the verdict, widow Susan Hull said she felt a great sense of relief that it was over and it had confirmed that her husband's death was "entirely avoidable". | Speaking after the verdict, widow Susan Hull said she felt a great sense of relief that it was over and it had confirmed that her husband's death was "entirely avoidable". |
| "I think all of our family feel it was the right verdict. It was what we'd waited four years to hear." | "I think all of our family feel it was the right verdict. It was what we'd waited four years to hear." |
| She said she was now prepared to "draw the line" on the event. | She said she was now prepared to "draw the line" on the event. |
| "It's been a long and painful time and we need to move forward." | "It's been a long and painful time and we need to move forward." |
| How pilots fired on 'friendlies' Drawing solace after long wait | How pilots fired on 'friendlies' Drawing solace after long wait |
| But she said the lack of co-operation from the US was "very disappointing". | But she said the lack of co-operation from the US was "very disappointing". |
| Afterwards, lawyer Geraldine McCool said the verdict did not suggest there would be a prosecution of the US pilot and the Hull family would not be calling for one. | Afterwards, lawyer Geraldine McCool said the verdict did not suggest there would be a prosecution of the US pilot and the Hull family would not be calling for one. |
| The Ministry of Defence said it was "very sorry for confusion and upset" caused by the handling of the US cockpit tape. | The Ministry of Defence said it was "very sorry for confusion and upset" caused by the handling of the US cockpit tape. |
| The recording was not initially shown to the inquest, but the US authorities only agreed for it to be released after the footage was leaked to the Sun newspaper. | The recording was not initially shown to the inquest, but the US authorities only agreed for it to be released after the footage was leaked to the Sun newspaper. |
| An MoD spokesman said: "This inquest has highlighted the need for a more coherent approach to the management of documentation and evidence." | An MoD spokesman said: "This inquest has highlighted the need for a more coherent approach to the management of documentation and evidence." |
| He said a team has been set up to liaise with coroners and bereaved families and to ensure documents are made available quickly to inquests. | He said a team has been set up to liaise with coroners and bereaved families and to ensure documents are made available quickly to inquests. |
| The cockpit video 'Friendly fire' transcript | The cockpit video 'Friendly fire' transcript |
| The Hull family believes key information was blacked out of a US Friendly Fire Investigation Board Report given to the coroner investigating his death. | 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 had directly appealed to US President George W Bush to give the coroner the information. | Mrs Hull had directly appealed to US President George W Bush to give the coroner the information. |
| In a statement the US Department of Defense said its own investigation concluded that the death was a "tragic accident". | In a statement the US Department of Defense said its own investigation concluded that the death was a "tragic accident". |
| The statement said that the US shared all the information from its inquiry with the MoD, except those parts that had to be withheld for "security, privacy or other reasons". | The statement said that the US shared all the information from its inquiry with the MoD, except those parts that had to be withheld for "security, privacy or other reasons". |
| "The investigation determined that the incident took place in a complex combat environment, the pilots followed applicable procedures," it said. | "The investigation determined that the incident took place in a complex combat environment, the pilots followed applicable procedures," it said. |
| L/Cpl Hull, who was from the Household Cavalry, died from multiple injuries inside his blazing Scimitar tank despite efforts by colleagues to save him. | L/Cpl Hull, who was from the Household Cavalry, died from multiple injuries inside his blazing Scimitar tank despite efforts by colleagues to save him. |
| Four other soldiers travelling in the convoy of light armoured vehicles were also injured in the incident on 28 March 2003 near Basra. | Four other soldiers travelling in the convoy of light armoured vehicles were also injured in the incident on 28 March 2003 near Basra. |
| How sympathetic are you to the plight of front line troops in Iraq? Are soldiers being made scapegoats for the death toll in Iraq? Should senior army personnel take more responsibility for the actions of the soldiers they send to war? | |