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Killed reporter 'keen' about Iraq Killed reporter 'keen' about Iraq
(about 2 hours later)
ITN's Terry Lloyd was "keen to get going" into Iraq days before he was killed on a road to Basra in the south in March 2003, an inquest has heard.ITN's Terry Lloyd was "keen to get going" into Iraq days before he was killed on a road to Basra in the south in March 2003, an inquest has heard.
Newsreader Sir Trevor McDonald told the court he met Mr Lloyd for breakfast in Kuwait two days before his death. Newsreader Sir Trevor McDonald said he last saw him in the car park of the hotel they were staying at in Kuwait.
The last time he saw him was again in Kuwait, on the morning of his death. Mr Lloyd was killed later that day after crossing the border into Iraq. The Mr Lloyd, 51, was shot dead on 22 March, crossing the border into Iraq.
Sir Trevor was the first witness at the inquest at Oxford's Old Assizes. Former ITN chief Stewart Purvis told the inquest "the military would not recognise independent journalists" and would not discuss troop movements.
Sir Trevor described Mr Lloyd as "a good friend" whom he had known for 20 years. It was pretty clear that the British Government did not want news correspondents in Baghdad Former ITN chief executive Stewart Purvis
Inactivity didn't suit him well. He was rather keen to get going Sir Trevor McDonald Mr Purvis stated the military did not wish to take responsibility for "unilaterals" - independent journalists - "to such an extent that in a sense they wouldn't even recognise their existence" .
"It was pretty clear that the British government did not want news correspondents in Baghdad," he added.
"It was claimed that this was in the name of safety."
The former ITN chief executive also told the court ITN did notify the military about their news teams' travel plans.
He added: "They were not prepared to enter into a dialogue so I'm not sure what more could have been done.
"We couldn't force the military to tell us troop movements to pass on to our war correspondents."
'The journalist's journalist'
Mr Purvis added although the ITN offices would have passed on any "useful" information to the veteran war correspondent, details Mr Lloyd would have gathered from British soldiers while travelling in the war zone would have been more valuable.
Sir Trevor, who described Mr Lloyd as "a good friend" whom he had known for 20 years, was the first witness at the inquest at Oxford's Old Assizes on Tuesday.
He described him as "the journalist's journalist" and "not a risk taker".He described him as "the journalist's journalist" and "not a risk taker".
"He was very professional, he regarded every job as a special assignment.
"He was utterly dedicated and his experience in the field was valued not only by us at ITN but by all his colleagues."
Sir Trevor had been sent to Kuwait at the start of the war in Iraq to present the news and had been staying in the same hotel as Mr Lloyd, the court heard.Sir Trevor had been sent to Kuwait at the start of the war in Iraq to present the news and had been staying in the same hotel as Mr Lloyd, the court heard.
He told coroner Andrew Walker that at their breakfast meeting Mr Lloyd had been "anxious" to cross the border into Iraq.
"Inactivity didn't suit him well," Sir Trevor added. "He was rather keen to get going."
Sir Trevor had known Mr Lloyd for 20 years, he told the inquestSir Trevor had known Mr Lloyd for 20 years, he told the inquest
The last time Sir Trevor had seen his friend alive was on the morning of 22 March 2003, when he had seen him in the underground car park of the hotel.
Sir Trevor told the inquest that initial reports of his friend's death had been confused and that it had taken some days to find out what had actually happened.Sir Trevor told the inquest that initial reports of his friend's death had been confused and that it had taken some days to find out what had actually happened.
French cameraman Fred Nerac and Lebanese translator Hussein Osman were with Mr Lloyd when they were apparently caught in crossfire between Iraqi and US forces.French cameraman Fred Nerac and Lebanese translator Hussein Osman were with Mr Lloyd when they were apparently caught in crossfire between Iraqi and US forces.
The remains of Mr Osman were found while Mr Nerac is still classed as missing.The remains of Mr Osman were found while Mr Nerac is still classed as missing.
Award-winning journalist
A fourth colleague, Daniel Demoustier, survived the incident and had later returned to the ITN base in Kuwait.A fourth colleague, Daniel Demoustier, survived the incident and had later returned to the ITN base in Kuwait.
"He was in a state of considerable shock," Sir Trevor said.
"He looked very dishevelled, like he had been through a pretty horrifying experience."
Sir Trevor also told the coroner he had later been called on to formally identify Mr Lloyd's body.Sir Trevor also told the coroner he had later been called on to formally identify Mr Lloyd's body.
Mr Walker said this had been "very sad". I came to the conclusion that the British military knew more about what happened at the top level than they were disclosing to us. Mr Purvis
Mr Lloyd began his career in the Midlands before joining ITN in 1983.Mr Lloyd began his career in the Midlands before joining ITN in 1983.
He went on to become one of the most experienced journalists in the network, taking on assignments in Lebanon and Cambodia, as well as an award-winning stint in Kosovo.He went on to become one of the most experienced journalists in the network, taking on assignments in Lebanon and Cambodia, as well as an award-winning stint in Kosovo.
His funeral was held in Cuddington, Buckinghamshire, in April 2003.His funeral was held in Cuddington, Buckinghamshire, in April 2003.
The court heard ITN made "numerous requests" to the Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon, following the death of Mr Lloyd, but the information the television company was given about what happened was "limited".
Mr Purvis added: "I came to the conclusion that the British military knew more about what happened at the top level than they were disclosing to us.
"The simple solution was that two ITN journalists went to Basra to try and find out."
Oxford coroner Andrew Walker said: "It seems that there needs to be some way of informing unilateral teams about where troops are going to be."
The hearing continues.