Hostages died from gunshot wounds

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/8142636.stm

Version 0 of 1.

Two British security guards who were held hostage in Iraq died from gunshot wounds, an inquest has heard.

Jason Swindlehurst, of Skelmersdale, Lancashire, and Jason Creswell, from Glasgow, were among five Britons kidnapped in Baghdad in May 2007.

Last month the two men's bodies were delivered to a Baghdad police station and later returned to the UK.

An inquest into their deaths was opened and adjourned in Wiltshire. The other three men are still missing in Iraq.

At Salisbury Coroner's Court, Coroner David Ridley heard evidence from Det Ch Insp Mark Moles, of the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism command, who is leading the investigation into the men's death.

The cause of death was recorded as gunshot wounds for both men.

Det Ch Insp Mark Moles said: "Myself and a specialist team were deployed to Iraq to provide investigative support in the days after the kidnapping, including forensics, to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Iraqi police service.

"We continue to retain primacy for the investigation into the kidnap and murder of these two individuals.

"On 19 June, through an intermediary, two bodies in caskets were delivered to a police station in Baghdad.

"What assisted in the initial identification process was that both bodies had unique tattooing, Mr Swindlehurst had particularly distinctive tattoos."

The inquest was adjourned to January 2010 and the men's bodies were released to their families for burial.