thedrifter
11-19-06, 05:51 PM
US Slated Over 'Friendly Fire' Deaths
Sunday November 19, 08:50 PM
America's deputy ambassador to London is being summoned to explain to the Government why US soldiers have failed to attend inquests into "friendly fire" incidents. They include the case of ITV reporter Terry Lloyd, who died after coming under fire from American aircraft in southern Iraq in 2003. Constitutional Affairs minister Harriet Harman demanded a meeting with David Johnson on Monday after her letters and phone calls were repeatedly ignored.
She said: "I am hoping the Americans will
give us full co-operation in the inquests because our special relationship demands honesty and openness."
She wrote to Mr Johnson following complaints from Oxfordshire coroner Andrew Walker about the failure of US servicemen to attend inquests.
Earlier this month, he ruled the deaths of two RAF Tornado pilots, Flight Lieutenants Kevin Main and David Williams, shot down by an American Patriot missile, were "entirely avoidable".
In October, his court returned a verdict of unlawful killing in the case of Mr Lloyd, who was shot by US Marines during the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Ms Harman's intervention comes weeks before the inquest into the death of Lance Corporal Matthew Hull, who died when an American pilot fired on a British tank convoy in March 2003.
His widow, Susan Hull, told the Mail On Sunday: "I want the pilot involved to be at the inquest.
"I don't see how the coroner can establish all the facts unless everyone who was there is present."
Ellie
Sunday November 19, 08:50 PM
America's deputy ambassador to London is being summoned to explain to the Government why US soldiers have failed to attend inquests into "friendly fire" incidents. They include the case of ITV reporter Terry Lloyd, who died after coming under fire from American aircraft in southern Iraq in 2003. Constitutional Affairs minister Harriet Harman demanded a meeting with David Johnson on Monday after her letters and phone calls were repeatedly ignored.
She said: "I am hoping the Americans will
give us full co-operation in the inquests because our special relationship demands honesty and openness."
She wrote to Mr Johnson following complaints from Oxfordshire coroner Andrew Walker about the failure of US servicemen to attend inquests.
Earlier this month, he ruled the deaths of two RAF Tornado pilots, Flight Lieutenants Kevin Main and David Williams, shot down by an American Patriot missile, were "entirely avoidable".
In October, his court returned a verdict of unlawful killing in the case of Mr Lloyd, who was shot by US Marines during the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Ms Harman's intervention comes weeks before the inquest into the death of Lance Corporal Matthew Hull, who died when an American pilot fired on a British tank convoy in March 2003.
His widow, Susan Hull, told the Mail On Sunday: "I want the pilot involved to be at the inquest.
"I don't see how the coroner can establish all the facts unless everyone who was there is present."
Ellie