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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| RAF man 'saw troops abuse Iraqis' | RAF man 'saw troops abuse Iraqis' |
| (4 days later) | |
| An RAF serviceman saw Iraqi civilians with bags over their heads being shouted at and abused by British soldiers, he has told a hearing. | An RAF serviceman saw Iraqi civilians with bags over their heads being shouted at and abused by British soldiers, he has told a hearing. |
| Senior Aircraftman Scott Hughes spoke at the court martial of seven soldiers charged variously with treating Iraqi civilians inhumanely and manslaughter. | Senior Aircraftman Scott Hughes spoke at the court martial of seven soldiers charged variously with treating Iraqi civilians inhumanely and manslaughter. |
| Cpl Donald Payne has already admitted the war crime of inhumanely treating civilian detainees in southern Iraq. | Cpl Donald Payne has already admitted the war crime of inhumanely treating civilian detainees in southern Iraq. |
| He and six others deny other charges relating to the alleged abuse in 2003. | He and six others deny other charges relating to the alleged abuse in 2003. |
| The charges also relate to the death of Baha Mousa, 26, in custody in Basra. | The charges also relate to the death of Baha Mousa, 26, in custody in Basra. |
| CHARGES IN FULL Cpl Donald Payne - manslaughter, inhumane treatment of persons, perverting the course of justiceL/Cpl Wayne Crowcroft - inhumane treatment of personsPte Darren Fallon - inhumane treatment of personsSgt Kelvin Stacey - actual bodily harm, alternatively assaultWarrant Officer Mark Davies - negligently performing a dutyMaj Michael Peebles - negligently performing a dutyCol Jorge Mendonca - negligently performing a duty | |
| Mr Mousa, a hotel receptionist, was among a group of detainees arrested following a counter-insurgency operation in September 2003. | Mr Mousa, a hotel receptionist, was among a group of detainees arrested following a counter-insurgency operation in September 2003. |
| SAC Hughes told the court martial, at the Military Court Centre, Bulford Camp, Wiltshire, he was visiting a British detention centre in Basra where 11 Iraqi civilians were being held when he heard "loud noises" and "shouting". | SAC Hughes told the court martial, at the Military Court Centre, Bulford Camp, Wiltshire, he was visiting a British detention centre in Basra where 11 Iraqi civilians were being held when he heard "loud noises" and "shouting". |
| When he went to investigate, he saw detainees with sand bags over their heads and arms outstretched. | When he went to investigate, he saw detainees with sand bags over their heads and arms outstretched. |
| SAC Hughes said he saw Cpl Payne attacking an elderly detainee, nicknamed "granddad" by the soldiers - later identified as Kifah Al-Matairi - and kicking him in the kidneys. | SAC Hughes said he saw Cpl Payne attacking an elderly detainee, nicknamed "granddad" by the soldiers - later identified as Kifah Al-Matairi - and kicking him in the kidneys. |
| "He then put his fingers into his eye sockets and yanked his head up, it was as if he was gouging his eyes." | "He then put his fingers into his eye sockets and yanked his head up, it was as if he was gouging his eyes." |
| SAC Hughes said Cpl Payne had asked him: "Would you like to see the choir?" | SAC Hughes said Cpl Payne had asked him: "Would you like to see the choir?" |
| Cpl Payne then went around the room kicking each detainee in the kidneys so each cried out in pain, SAC Hughes added. | Cpl Payne then went around the room kicking each detainee in the kidneys so each cried out in pain, SAC Hughes added. |
| I had never really seen anything like that before. I did not know why I stayed that long Senior Aircraftman Scott Hughes | I had never really seen anything like that before. I did not know why I stayed that long Senior Aircraftman Scott Hughes |
| He also told of the smell of excrement, sweat and urine in the building, saying he was told the prisoners had soiled themselves. | He also told of the smell of excrement, sweat and urine in the building, saying he was told the prisoners had soiled themselves. |
| A day after his visit, SAC Hughes said he told his commanding officers what he had seen after hearing one of the detainees had died. | A day after his visit, SAC Hughes said he told his commanding officers what he had seen after hearing one of the detainees had died. |
| "I reported it because I had a conscience," he said. | "I reported it because I had a conscience," he said. |
| "I had never really seen anything like that before. I did not know why I stayed that long. I was shocked." | "I had never really seen anything like that before. I did not know why I stayed that long. I was shocked." |
| Asked why he had not intervened, he replied: "They [the soldiers] were a lot bigger than me and I didn't know what their orders were." | Asked why he had not intervened, he replied: "They [the soldiers] were a lot bigger than me and I didn't know what their orders were." |
| Under cross-examination, SAC Hughes denied exaggerating or "spicing up" his account. | Under cross-examination, SAC Hughes denied exaggerating or "spicing up" his account. |
| Charges denied | Charges denied |
| SAC Hughes is the first British servicemen who was at the detention centre on the day of the alleged abuse to give evidence to the hearing. | SAC Hughes is the first British servicemen who was at the detention centre on the day of the alleged abuse to give evidence to the hearing. |
| Last month, Cpl Payne, 35, of the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, became the first British soldier to admit to a war crime after pleading guilty to the inhumane treatment charge. | Last month, Cpl Payne, 35, of the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, became the first British soldier to admit to a war crime after pleading guilty to the inhumane treatment charge. |
| He denies further charges of perverting the course of justice and manslaughter. L/Cpl Wayne Crowcroft, 22, and Pte Darren Fallon, 23 - both also of the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment - deny the charge of inhumane treatment. | He denies further charges of perverting the course of justice and manslaughter. L/Cpl Wayne Crowcroft, 22, and Pte Darren Fallon, 23 - both also of the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment - deny the charge of inhumane treatment. |
| Sgt Kelvin Stacey, 29, of the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, is accused of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, with an alternative count of common assault. | Sgt Kelvin Stacey, 29, of the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, is accused of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, with an alternative count of common assault. |
| Maj Michael Peebles, 35, and Warrant Officer Mark Davies, 37, both of the Intelligence Corps, face charges of negligently performing a duty. | Maj Michael Peebles, 35, and Warrant Officer Mark Davies, 37, both of the Intelligence Corps, face charges of negligently performing a duty. |
| And Col Jorge Mendonca, 42, formerly commander of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment - is now the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment - is charged with negligently performing his duties. | And Col Jorge Mendonca, 42, formerly commander of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment - is now the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment - is charged with negligently performing his duties. |