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Iraq soldiers unlawfully killed Iraq soldiers unlawfully killed
(about 1 hour later)
Two soldiers ambushed in Iraq were unlawfully killed by Iraqi military intelligence, a coroner has ruled.Two soldiers ambushed in Iraq were unlawfully killed by Iraqi military intelligence, a coroner has ruled.
The bodies of Sgt Simon Cullingworth, 36, and Sapper Luke Allsopp, 24, were found in a shallow grave outside Basra.The bodies of Sgt Simon Cullingworth, 36, and Sapper Luke Allsopp, 24, were found in a shallow grave outside Basra.
The inquest heard the men had been left "wounded but alive" after the ambush on the outskirts of the town of Al Zubayr near Basra in March 2003. The inquest heard the men were still alive after the ambush on the outskirts of the town of Al Zubayr in March 2003.
They were dragged from their Land Rover to a Baath Party HQ and then to an Iraqi intelligence base. They were dragged from their Land Rover to a local Baath Party HQ and then to an Iraqi intelligence base. The coroner said they were not "adequately warned".
Coroner Andrew Walker said the route the soldiers had taken had been the site of another ambush on British forces the day before, and the danger in which they were being put should have been "anticipated".
The "failure to adequately plan for and warn of the dangers was, in my view, a contributory factor to their deaths", he said.
Morphine
The men died of gunshot wounds in the Iraqi military intelligence compound.The men died of gunshot wounds in the Iraqi military intelligence compound.
They were shot and killed in that compound Coroner Andrew WalkerThey were shot and killed in that compound Coroner Andrew Walker
Coroner Andrew Walker said the route that the soldiers had taken had been the site of another ambush on British forces the day before and the danger in which they were being put should have been "anticipated". The coroner said: "They were ambushed and taken to a temporary Baath party headquarters where evidence suggests that they were both alive.
Mr Walker said the "failure to adequately plan for and warn of the dangers was, in my view, a contributory factor to their deaths".
He added: "They were ambushed and taken to a temporary Baath party headquarters where evidence suggests that they were both alive.
"Staff Sgt Cullingworth administered morphine to Sapper Allsopp at some point."Staff Sgt Cullingworth administered morphine to Sapper Allsopp at some point.
"From there they were taken ostensibly to a hospital but, in fact, to an Iraqi military intelligence compound."From there they were taken ostensibly to a hospital but, in fact, to an Iraqi military intelligence compound.
"They were shot and killed in that compound.""They were shot and killed in that compound."
'Watching mob''Watching mob'
Sapper Allsopp, from North London, and Sgt Cullingworth, from Essex, were both in the 33 Engineer Regiment - a specialist bomb disposal unit of the Royal Engineers.Sapper Allsopp, from North London, and Sgt Cullingworth, from Essex, were both in the 33 Engineer Regiment - a specialist bomb disposal unit of the Royal Engineers.
Both had died of gunshot wounds fired from at least two rifles and one pistol, the inquest heard.Both had died of gunshot wounds fired from at least two rifles and one pistol, the inquest heard.
Last week, the court heard photographs had been taken of the men at the compound as they had lain dying surrounded by a "watching mob".Last week, the court heard photographs had been taken of the men at the compound as they had lain dying surrounded by a "watching mob".
Some of this footage was later shown on Arabic television channel al-Jazeera.Some of this footage was later shown on Arabic television channel al-Jazeera.
L/Cpl Marcus Clarke, who was driving the Land Rover behind when it was hit with a "hail of bullets", told the court he had heard Sgt Cullingworth shouting: "Keep up, keep up", over the radio as they had driven into the ambush.L/Cpl Marcus Clarke, who was driving the Land Rover behind when it was hit with a "hail of bullets", told the court he had heard Sgt Cullingworth shouting: "Keep up, keep up", over the radio as they had driven into the ambush.
He told the inquest how their attackers - dressed in black clothing - ran towards the vehicles while still maintaining heavy fire.
The two soldiers were unable to escape and were subsequently captured by the Iraqi fighters.
Under the Geneva Convention, the men should have been treated as prisoners of war and offered medical treatment for their wounds, the inquest heard.
However, the photographs shown to the court featured the men bleeding heavily "without any obvious medical help".
18-month inquiry
Major Kay Roberts was put in charge of the 18-month army inquiry into the circumstances of their deaths.
The court heard Major Roberts and her team interviewed numerous Iraqi witnesses to discover where the soldiers were transported after the ambush.
She told the court that a man who described himself as a military adviser to the Baath party had said that the men had been taken by military intelligence and "would probably be murdered".
Questioning Major Roberts, the coroner said: "His understanding was that this was the normal outcome?
"That people handed over to military intelligence would be murdered."