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| 'Friendly fire' killing unlawful | 'Friendly fire' killing unlawful |
| (10 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 near Basra in March 2003 which killed Lance Corporal Matty Hull, 25, amounted to a criminal act, Andrew Walker said. | The "friendly fire" incident near Basra in March 2003 which killed Lance Corporal Matty Hull, 25, amounted to a criminal act, Andrew Walker said. |
| The coroner said the death was "entirely avoidable" and L/Cpl Hull's widow said the verdict was "right". | The coroner said the death was "entirely avoidable" and L/Cpl Hull's widow said the verdict was "right". |
| Video footage from the cockpit of the US A-10 "tankbuster" plane was shown to his family during the inquest. | Video footage from the cockpit of the US A-10 "tankbuster" plane was shown to his family during the inquest. |
| 'Painful time' | 'Painful time' |
| Speaking after the verdict, widow Susan Hull said she felt a great sense of relief that it was over and it had confirmed 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 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". | She said she was now prepared to "draw the line". |
| "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' 'Friendly fire' transcript But she said the lack of co-operation from the US was "very disappointing". | How pilots fired on 'friendlies' 'Friendly fire' transcript But she said the lack of co-operation from the US was "very disappointing". |
| No American witnesses gave evidence, despite the coroner's repeated requests to them to co-operate more fully. | No American witnesses gave evidence, despite the coroner's repeated requests to them to co-operate more fully. |
| In delivering his verdict, Mr Walker said: "I believe that the full facts have not yet come to light." | In delivering his verdict, Mr Walker said: "I believe that the full facts have not yet come to light." |
| He said the US pilots should have flown lower to confirm identities before opening fire. | He said the US pilots should have flown lower to confirm identities before opening fire. |
| "I don't think this was a case of honest mistake," he said. | "I don't think this was a case of honest mistake," he 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," said the Oxford assistant deputy coroner. | "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," said the Oxford assistant deputy coroner. |
| After the verdict Hull family lawyer Geraldine McCool said the inquest verdict did not indicate a future criminal prosecution of the US pilot involved, and neither would the family beseeking it. | |
| The cockpit tape was not initially shown to the inquest, but the Ministry of Defence released it after the footage was leaked to the Sun newspaper. | |
| It was seen by the Hull family, who were able to ask questions, but it was not shown in open court at the inquest. | It was seen by the Hull family, who were able to ask questions, but it was not shown in open court at the inquest. |
| 'Lightly armoured' | 'Lightly armoured' |
| 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. |
| The cockpit video | The cockpit video |
| 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. |
| Deputy chief of mission at the US embassy in London, David Johnson, said investigations into such incidents were "extremely thorough". | Deputy chief of mission at the US embassy in London, David Johnson, said investigations into such incidents were "extremely thorough". |
| He added if anyone had been to blame for the incident, "that culpability would have been pursued". | He added if anyone had been to blame for the incident, "that culpability would have been pursued". |