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Afghanistan deaths: Afghan man shot marine and medic, inquest told Afghanistan deaths: Afghan man shot marine and medic, inquest told
(34 minutes later)
Marines have told an inquest how a young Afghan man fired round after round of bullets at them, killing two of their UK military comrades.Marines have told an inquest how a young Afghan man fired round after round of bullets at them, killing two of their UK military comrades.
Northern Irish medic Cpl Channing Day, and Cpl David O'Connor, of 40 Commando, from Hampshire, died after the gun battle in Helmand province last year.Northern Irish medic Cpl Channing Day, and Cpl David O'Connor, of 40 Commando, from Hampshire, died after the gun battle in Helmand province last year.
Oxford Coroner's Court heard that both died from gunshot wounds to the chest.Oxford Coroner's Court heard that both died from gunshot wounds to the chest.
Marine Rees said the patrol came under fire as they escorted Cpl Day, who was to teach first aid to Afghan police.Marine Rees said the patrol came under fire as they escorted Cpl Day, who was to teach first aid to Afghan police.
As the group reached a checkpoint near the village of Char Kutsa, in the Nahr-e Saraj district, Marine Rees said he spotted two men walking towards the mosque, one of whom was carrying a loaded rifle with tape around it.As the group reached a checkpoint near the village of Char Kutsa, in the Nahr-e Saraj district, Marine Rees said he spotted two men walking towards the mosque, one of whom was carrying a loaded rifle with tape around it.
In a statement that was read out in court, Marine Rees said he had greeted the pair in Pashtu but received no reply.In a statement that was read out in court, Marine Rees said he had greeted the pair in Pashtu but received no reply.
He described how moments later a lot of dirt was churned up as one of the Afghan men, whom he said was under 18 and not wearing a uniform, began firing on automatic in three or four-second bursts.He described how moments later a lot of dirt was churned up as one of the Afghan men, whom he said was under 18 and not wearing a uniform, began firing on automatic in three or four-second bursts.
As the man moved towards a wall, Marine Rees fired three shots back at him and then there were rounds "hitting the wall and trees around us", he added.As the man moved towards a wall, Marine Rees fired three shots back at him and then there were rounds "hitting the wall and trees around us", he added.
Another unnamed marine said the gunman "sprayed his weapon from side to side in our general direction".Another unnamed marine said the gunman "sprayed his weapon from side to side in our general direction".
After a comrade called that one of them had been hit, the marine said in his statement that he fired about 20 rounds at the gunman who was 15ft (4.6m) away.After a comrade called that one of them had been hit, the marine said in his statement that he fired about 20 rounds at the gunman who was 15ft (4.6m) away.
"It all happened very quickly," he said, and was over in a couple of minutes."It all happened very quickly," he said, and was over in a couple of minutes.
The Afghan man also died.The Afghan man also died.
Cpl Philip Benford, who was in command of the group of eight including Cpl Day and Cpl O'Connor, told the inquest he was positive there had been two gunmen.Cpl Philip Benford, who was in command of the group of eight including Cpl Day and Cpl O'Connor, told the inquest he was positive there had been two gunmen.
He said that the dead man who had been lying next to the weapon with distinctive bright-coloured tape wrapped around it had been wearing different clothes to his accomplice.He said that the dead man who had been lying next to the weapon with distinctive bright-coloured tape wrapped around it had been wearing different clothes to his accomplice.
"The shots I saw - I distinctly remember - were from a guy with a dark overall and a light blue undergarment, which was very different from the garment which I passed as I was clearing the area," he said."The shots I saw - I distinctly remember - were from a guy with a dark overall and a light blue undergarment, which was very different from the garment which I passed as I was clearing the area," he said.
A forensic scientist gave evidence that the weapon strapped with bright-coloured tape was not the rifle used to kill Cpl Day or Cpl O'Connor.A forensic scientist gave evidence that the weapon strapped with bright-coloured tape was not the rifle used to kill Cpl Day or Cpl O'Connor.
Cpl Benford said that when the gunmen's colleagues from the Afghan Uniformed Police had arrived at the scene, they had seemed casual and "at ease", "like they knew what was going on".Cpl Benford said that when the gunmen's colleagues from the Afghan Uniformed Police had arrived at the scene, they had seemed casual and "at ease", "like they knew what was going on".
'Exceptional marine''Exceptional marine'
Sgt Richard Bateman, also giving evidence to the court, said he thought "very highly" of Cpl Day and she did "an excellent job".Sgt Richard Bateman, also giving evidence to the court, said he thought "very highly" of Cpl Day and she did "an excellent job".
He also described Cpl O'Connor as an "exceptional" marine.He also described Cpl O'Connor as an "exceptional" marine.
Immediately after the incident on 23 October last year, Afghan police claimed that both UK personnel had been shot by their own comrades.Immediately after the incident on 23 October last year, Afghan police claimed that both UK personnel had been shot by their own comrades.
But the Ministry of Defence denied this and Defence Secretary Phillip Hammond confirmed his staff were looking into the possibility they were shot by a policeman.But the Ministry of Defence denied this and Defence Secretary Phillip Hammond confirmed his staff were looking into the possibility they were shot by a policeman.
After an initial review of the scene, Nato specialists and Afghan government representatives said the pair had not been killed by UK forces. After an initial review of the scene, Nato specialists and Afghan government representatives said the pair had not been killed by British forces.
Instead, they were believed to have died at the hands of what the MoD suggested was "a third party or parties whose identities have yet to be established but who are not UK personnel".Instead, they were believed to have died at the hands of what the MoD suggested was "a third party or parties whose identities have yet to be established but who are not UK personnel".
Cpl Day, 25, who was from Comber in County Down, joined the Army in 2005 and was deployed to Afghanistan less than a month before she became the UK's third female soldier to be killed there since 2001.Cpl Day, 25, who was from Comber in County Down, joined the Army in 2005 and was deployed to Afghanistan less than a month before she became the UK's third female soldier to be killed there since 2001.
Cpl O'Connor, 27, had been in Afghanistan since the end of the previous month and was serving as a section commander in the acting rank of corporal.Cpl O'Connor, 27, had been in Afghanistan since the end of the previous month and was serving as a section commander in the acting rank of corporal.