US Slated Over 'Friendly Fire' Deaths
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  1. #1

    Exclamation US Slated Over 'Friendly Fire' Deaths

    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


  2. #2
    Washington to hear of UK 'friendly fire' concerns

    Staff and agencies
    Monday November 20, 2006

    Guardian Unlimited

    Government concerns about the failure of US soldiers to attend the inquests of British service personnel killed by so-called friendly fire in Iraq are to be relayed to Washington, the US deputy ambassador to the UK said today.

    David Johnson made the assurance after meeting the constitutional affairs minister, Harriet Harman, this morning.

    Ms Harman urged Mr Johnson to explain his country's approach to the inquests in response to complaints from the Oxfordshire coroner, Andrew Walker, who conducts the inquests into the deaths of soldiers whose bodies are brought back to the UK through RAF Brize Norton.

    The US military has provided written statements to the inquests, but no personnel are so far believed to have attended hearings to face questioning in person about their actions.

    A spokesman for the Department for Constitutional Affairs described today's meeting as "useful", and said Ms Harman and Mr Johnson would meet again before Christmas.

    He said: "Mr Johnson has agreed to report the government's concerns back. Ms Harman and Mr Johnson have agreed to meet again shortly."

    Families of the victims of friendly fire welcomed news of the meeting. Among them was the famiy of the ITN news reporter Terry Lloyd, whom US marines shot dead during the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

    Earlier this month, Mr Walker ruled that the deaths of two RAF Tornado pilots, Flight Lieutenants Kevin Main and David Williams, had been "entirely avoidable".

    And last month his court returned a verdict of unlawful killing in the case of Mr Lloyd.

    Ms Harman said Britain's support for the US meant the bereaved relatives deserved better treatment. "The families want to know how their loved ones were killed," she said.

    "They have got that right. I am hoping the Americans will give us full cooperation in the inquests because our special relationship demands honesty and openness.

    "They are our allies in Iraq, and should respect the grief of the families and not hide from the court. If any of our soldiers had been involved in friendly fire deaths we would expect them to attend hearings."

    Louis Charalambous, solicitor for Mr Lloyd's wife, Lynn, and daughter Chelsey, said: "It is a very positive development and the first government indication of meaningful support for the families, including Terry Lloyd's family."

    Anne Leech, whose 20-year-old son, Kevin Leech, was killed with eight others in a friendly fire incident in the first Gulf war, said any movement from the US would be fabulous, if it happened, and was "very surprising".

    "We couldn't get anything from the Americans," she said. "But if anything the British were worse, because you expect your own government to help you, not put obstacles in your path."

    An inquest into Mr Leech's death returned a verdict of unlawful killing. "We didn't want a witch-hunt; we just wanted the truth," Ms Leech said.

    "We would have been happy to have them give evidence by video link. They wouldn't necessarily have had to attend the inquest. We just wanted to know what happened."

    The meeting comes weeks before the inquest into the death of Lance Corporal Matthew Hull, who died when a US 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


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