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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". |
| The Ministry of Defence apologised for a delay in releasing video footage from the cockpit of the US A-10 plane. | The Ministry of Defence apologised for a delay in releasing video footage from the cockpit of the US A-10 plane. |
| 'Painful time' | 'Painful time' |
| 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." | |
| 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. | |
| "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. | |
| "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". | |
| "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." |
| 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. | |
| How pilots fired on 'friendlies' Is 'fog of war' an excuse? | How pilots fired on 'friendlies' Is 'fog of war' an excuse? |
| 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 MoD released it after the footage was leaked to the Sun newspaper. | The recording was not initially shown to the inquest, but the MoD 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 '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. |
| 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". |