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/6449227.stm
The article has changed 21 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 19 | Version 20 |
|---|---|
| 'Friendly fire' killing unlawful | 'Friendly fire' killing unlawful |
| (1 day 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 of Horse Matty Hull, 25, was 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 narrative verdict, Mr Walker said: "The attack on the convoy amounted to an assault. | In delivering his narrative 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' Finding solace after long wait | How pilots fired on 'friendlies' Finding 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. |
| Constitutional affairs minister Harriet Harman, who met with US diplomats in London ahead of the inquest, said she shared the "frustration" at their failure to send witnesses. | Constitutional affairs minister Harriet Harman, who met with US diplomats in London ahead of the inquest, said she shared the "frustration" at their failure to send witnesses. |
| "I explained that this was not a criminal court, nobody could be found guilty and sent to prison, it is simply asking questions and requiring answers," she said. | "I explained that this was not a criminal court, nobody could be found guilty and sent to prison, it is simply asking questions and requiring answers," she said. |
| "But I am afraid that they weren't prepared to change their position." | "But I am afraid that they weren't prepared to change their position." |
| In a statement the US defence department said its own investigation concluded the death was a "tragic accident". | In a statement the US defence department said its own investigation concluded the death was a "tragic accident". |
| The statement said 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 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. |
| Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox called for improvements in training and better identification of allied vehicles. | Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox called for improvements in training and better identification of allied vehicles. |
| "It's incumbent upon the British and American defence departments to ensure that all cautions possible are taken to avoid all future tragedies of this kind," he said. | "It's incumbent upon the British and American defence departments to ensure that all cautions possible are taken to avoid all future tragedies of this kind," he said. |