British murderers in Iraq acquitted
- From: "Faris Jawad" <ana_faris_bila_jawad@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: 3 Nov 2005 11:02:31 -0800
British murderers in Iraq acquitted
11/3/2005 2:00:00 PM GMT
The judge at a court-martial on Thursday dismissed murder charges
against seven soldiers, from the 3rd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment,
who're accused of murdering Iraqi teenager; claiming there's
insufficient evidence to secure a conviction, The Associated Press
reported Thursday.
The seven Britons, identified as Cpl. Scott Evans, 32, Pvt. Billy
Nerney, 24, Pvt. Samuel May, 25, Pvt. Morne Vosloo, 26, and former
privates Daniel Harding, 25, Roberto Di-Gregorio, 24 and Scott Jackson,
26, had been accused of murdering Nadhem Abdullah on May 11, 2003, in
Al U'Zayra in southern Iraq.
"After discarding the evidence that is too inherently weak or vague for
any sensible person to rely on it, prosecution evidence taken at its
highest is such that a reasonable jury or court martial board properly
directed could never reach the high standard of proof required to be
sure of the guilt of any defendant," Judge Advocate General Jeff
Blackett said.
"In those circumstances it is my duty to remove the case from the board
now and direct that they return verdicts of not guilty to the charge of
murder against all seven defendants."
Abdullah was an "innocent" Iraqi teenager who died after being brutally
beaten with rifle butts, helmets, fists and feet in a May 2003 attack
in Al Ferkah, 60 miles north of Basra, Martin Heslop, the prosecuting
attorney, said.
According to Mr Heslop, the attack took place three weeks after "formal
hostilities" had ceased. The seven soldiers attacked passing white
Toyota carrying Mr Abdullah and another man.
The car turned into the village and drew to a stop and was then boxed
in by the soldiers.
"The deceased and the driver were dragged out of the taxi," Mr Heslop
said.
"They were made to lie down on the ground and were hit by the soldiers
who used their feet, fists, helmets and rifles. The men did little but
lie there."
The British army was concerned the case would raise questions once
again about the behaviour of the occupying forces in Iraq after last
year's Abu Ghraib prison scandal, Reuters said.
No British soldiers have been charged in the prisoners abuse that took
place in the notorious Iraqi jail outside Baghdad.
http://www.islamonline.com/cgi-bin/news_service/middle_east_full_story.asp?service_id=9971
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