Friendly fire death was 'criminal' Friday March 16, 11:11 AM



The friendly fire death of British soldier Matty Hull was unlawful and the result of a criminal attack, a coroner has ruled.

Oxfordshire assistant deputy coroner Andrew Walker criticised the US authorities for failing to co-operate with his investigation and said: "I believe that the full facts have not yet come to light."

He added: "The attack on the convoy amounted to an assault. It was unlawful because there was no lawful reason for it and in that respect it was criminal."

Lance Corporal Hull's widow Susan, who has fought a long battle to establish the truth about her husband's death, burst into tears as Mr Walker delivered his damning verdict.

The inquest, at Oxford's Old Assizes, had heard how the pilot of a US A-10 Tank-buster plane swooped and opened fire on the L/Cpl Hull's armed vehicle convoy in southern Iraq on March 28, 2003.

L/Cpl Hull died in the attack, which happened just three days before his 26th birthday. Four other British soldiers were injured. The British vehicles were clearly marked.

But they were targeted by two US jets who were patrolling the area in search of Iraqi forces. Mr Walker said: "I don't think this was a case of honest mistake. There is no evidence the pilots were acting in self-defence."

On Thursday Mrs Hull made a direct appeal to US president George Bush to help the coroner's inquiry by producing 11 censored lines of an interview between a ground controller and one of the pilots.

She said: "He assured me that he would do all he could to help.

"President Bush, this is the last day you can help us. We ask that you give the coroner just one single page."

You're fucking kidding , right?

"But they were targeted by two US jets who were patrolling the area in search of Iraqi forces. Mr Walker said: "I don't think this was a case of honest mistake. There is no evidence the pilots were acting in self-defence." "

First off, combat is not a fucking act of self defense.

Secondly, What could possibly be the motive for a US pilot to murder UK mech Infantry?

Is stupid a crime now? If it is, Mr Walker will soon have a knock on his door.

6,
The US' attempt to cover up the facts have coloured the issue. There is a feeling over here that as the allies and friends of the US, our court attepts to gain info (which did not prejudice security) should have been treated with more respect.

The flight leader was more than stupid and there is a point where shooting without checking the target becomes illegal. There always has been. Check the Boston Massacre. British soldiers were prosecuted for less.

I agree with ya to a point Acorn, those pilots should never be pilots again. This issue has been beaten to death on this board as well as a hundred others.

The writer, Walker, states that it was an act of murder on purpose instead of what it is, an act of extreme negligence.

Negligence on behalf of more parties than just the pilots as well.

6,

That seems fair to me. War is all shades of grey and this subject seems to have been covered. There but by the grace of God go I.