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Nigeria kidnap victim Chris McManus was 'unlawfully killed' | Nigeria kidnap victim Chris McManus was 'unlawfully killed' |
(35 minutes later) | |
An engineer from Greater Manchester was unlawfully killed by his kidnappers in Nigeria minutes after a UK-led rescue operation stormed in, an inquest found. | An engineer from Greater Manchester was unlawfully killed by his kidnappers in Nigeria minutes after a UK-led rescue operation stormed in, an inquest found. |
Hostages Chris McManus, 28, from Oldham, and Italian Franco Lamolinara, 48, died on 8 March 2012 before Nigeria and UK forces were able to rescue them. | Hostages Chris McManus, 28, from Oldham, and Italian Franco Lamolinara, 48, died on 8 March 2012 before Nigeria and UK forces were able to rescue them. |
They had been kidnapped in May 2011 after gunmen stormed their building. | They had been kidnapped in May 2011 after gunmen stormed their building. |
An inquest in Salisbury recorded a verdict of unlawful killing for Mr McManus. | An inquest in Salisbury recorded a verdict of unlawful killing for Mr McManus. |
British special forces were sent to the Sokoto area the day before the rescue attempt and the go-ahead was given by Cobra, the government's crisis committee, after a review of the intelligence led to fears for the men's safety. | British special forces were sent to the Sokoto area the day before the rescue attempt and the go-ahead was given by Cobra, the government's crisis committee, after a review of the intelligence led to fears for the men's safety. |
'Killed quickly' | 'Killed quickly' |
Earlier a video had been released to news media appearing to show the men blindfolded with their arms behind them and masked men standing nearby. | Earlier a video had been released to news media appearing to show the men blindfolded with their arms behind them and masked men standing nearby. |
The hostages were killed "fairly quickly into the engagement" as forces came under fire from kidnappers, the inquest heard, with Mr McManus shot six times through a toilet door. | The hostages were killed "fairly quickly into the engagement" as forces came under fire from kidnappers, the inquest heard, with Mr McManus shot six times through a toilet door. |
He died from a single gunshot to the head and death would have been almost immediate, pathologist Dr Nicholas Hunt told the inquest. | He died from a single gunshot to the head and death would have been almost immediate, pathologist Dr Nicholas Hunt told the inquest. |
Wiltshire and Swindon coroner David Ridley said: "I am satisfied that Chris was killed as the result of a weapon fired by an insurgent, fired without legal justification or excuse and quite clearly with the intention of killing." | Wiltshire and Swindon coroner David Ridley said: "I am satisfied that Chris was killed as the result of a weapon fired by an insurgent, fired without legal justification or excuse and quite clearly with the intention of killing." |
Mr McManus's family paid tribute to "the seven British military personnel who, with their Nigerian counterparts, risked their lives attempting to rescue Chris and Franco from the compound in Sokoto". | |
They added: "We hoped until the end for a positive outcome as we are sure did Chris and Franco. | They added: "We hoped until the end for a positive outcome as we are sure did Chris and Franco. |
"They were always in a dangerous situation from the time of their kidnapping. However, the sequence of events, particularly over the last few days of their lives, played out in such a manner as to make it a hopeless one. | "They were always in a dangerous situation from the time of their kidnapping. However, the sequence of events, particularly over the last few days of their lives, played out in such a manner as to make it a hopeless one. |
"We accept that the decisions reached and taken by the authorities were the only ones possible based on the information available. | "We accept that the decisions reached and taken by the authorities were the only ones possible based on the information available. |
"Chris cannot be hurt any more, we and all those who loved him will always remember the way he lived and not the way he died." | "Chris cannot be hurt any more, we and all those who loved him will always remember the way he lived and not the way he died." |
Mr McManus, a quantity surveyor and Salford University graduate, had been working for a construction company building shopping centres and stadia in Nigeria. | Mr McManus, a quantity surveyor and Salford University graduate, had been working for a construction company building shopping centres and stadia in Nigeria. |
He was living in a heavily guarded compound in the city of Birnin-Kebbi, which had previously been considered safe by his employers. | He was living in a heavily guarded compound in the city of Birnin-Kebbi, which had previously been considered safe by his employers. |
A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokeswoman said: "Our thoughts are with Chris's family - they have shown great dignity and strength throughout and no family should have to go through this trauma." |
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