Iraqi court drops case in slayings
Source: Agencies |
October 11, 2010, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A BAGHDAD court yesterday cleared two Iraqi men accused of taking part in the 2003 mob slaying of six British soldiers in southern Iraq, saying there was no eyewitnesses to link the men to the killings.
The case has been closely followed by the British military and veteran groups as a critical test of whether anyone will be held accountable for the slayings, which stunned Britain.
Chief Justice Baleagh Hamdi Hikmat dropped the charges against Moussa Ismael Haider, 39, and Hamza Hutaer Mohammed, 33, after no testimony on the slayings was shown in court.
A statement by Britain's Ministry of Defense said it has "no choice but to respect the decision of the Iraqi judges." It added that seven other arrest warrants remain outstanding in the case and they are "being actively pursued by the Iraqi authorities."
But families of the British soldiers killed were disappointed.
"Quite honestly these people just haven't been in court long enough to be able to prove their innocence, which obviously asks the question why did the judge decide to bring it to court then dismiss it so quickly?" John Hyde, whose son Lance Corporal Benjamin Hyde was among those killed, told Britain's Sky News.
The case has been closely followed by the British military and veteran groups as a critical test of whether anyone will be held accountable for the slayings, which stunned Britain.
Chief Justice Baleagh Hamdi Hikmat dropped the charges against Moussa Ismael Haider, 39, and Hamza Hutaer Mohammed, 33, after no testimony on the slayings was shown in court.
A statement by Britain's Ministry of Defense said it has "no choice but to respect the decision of the Iraqi judges." It added that seven other arrest warrants remain outstanding in the case and they are "being actively pursued by the Iraqi authorities."
But families of the British soldiers killed were disappointed.
"Quite honestly these people just haven't been in court long enough to be able to prove their innocence, which obviously asks the question why did the judge decide to bring it to court then dismiss it so quickly?" John Hyde, whose son Lance Corporal Benjamin Hyde was among those killed, told Britain's Sky News.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
