Iraq double murder case delayed

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/manchester/8471849.stm

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The trial of a former soldier accused of killing two colleagues in Iraq has been adjourned for psychiatric reports.

Danny Fitzsimons, 33, of Middleton, Greater Manchester, is accused of the murder of two ArmorGroup workers in Baghdad's Green Zone.

Paul McGuigan, of Peebles, Scotland, and Australian Darren Hoare, both 37, were shot dead in August 2009. All three men worked as security guards.

The case in Baghdad is due to resume on 18 February.

Mr Fitzsimons' defence counsel had asked for him to be referred to a medical board for a full assessment of his state of mind at the time of the incident.

Security guards

Family and friends claim he was suffering mental torment from events he witnessed while serving eight years in the British Army, including tours of duty during the Balkans conflict and in Iraq.

Mr Fitzsimons is understood to be the first Westerner facing an Iraqi trial on murder charges since an agreement giving foreign workers immunity was lifted.

His lawyers, John Tipple and Nick Wrack, were attempting to have him extradited back to the UK to face any charges.

Mr McGuigan, 37, a former Royal Marines commando from Peebles-shire in the Scottish Borders, had a son and was about to become a father for a second time.

Father-of-three Mr Hoare, 37, from Queensland, served in Iraq as a member of the Royal Australian Air Force before starting work as a private security contractor.

The Green Zone is a heavily-protected region of Iraq's capital city, which houses Iraqi government, coalition headquarters and most embassies.

A year ago Iraqi forces took over responsibility for the security of the zone.