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'Friendly fire' video to be shown 'Friendly fire' video to be shown
(about 1 hour later)
A video of a "friendly fire" incident which killed a UK soldier will be shown at an inquest when it resumes later.A video of a "friendly fire" incident which killed a UK soldier will be shown at an inquest when it resumes later.
Lance Corporal of Horse Matty Hull, 25, from Berkshire, died when US A-10 "tankbuster" pilots opened fire on a convoy in southern Iraq four years ago. Lance Corporal of Horse Matty Hull, 25, from Berkshire, died when US A-10 "tankbuster" pilots opened fire on a convoy in southern Iraq in 2003.
Last month Oxfordshire Assistant Deputy Coroner Andrew Walker ruled the cockpit tape would be played at the hearing in Oxford but not shown in open court. Last month, Oxfordshire Assistant Deputy Coroner Andrew Walker ruled the cockpit tape would be shown at the hearing but not played in open court.
The inquest was adjouned before the video was leaked to the Sun newspaper. The inquest was adjourned before the video was leaked to the Sun newspaper.
Air attackAir attack
At a pre-inquest hearing Mr Walker agreed not to show the footage in public despite calling it "vital evidence". At a pre-inquest hearing in Oxford, Mr Walker agreed not to show the footage in public despite calling it "vital evidence".
The tape shows US pilots mistakenly firing at two British army tanks near the Iraqi city of Basra in March 2003.The tape shows US pilots mistakenly firing at two British army tanks near the Iraqi city of Basra in March 2003.
L/Cpl Hull, from the Household Cavalry Regiment, had been travelling in a column of light armoured vehicles near Basra when it was attacked from the air. L/Cpl Hull, from the Household Cavalry Regiment, had been travelling in a column of light armoured vehicles near Basra which was attacked from the air.
The soldier died from multiple injuries inside his blazing Scimitar tank despite efforts by colleagues to save him. The soldier died from multiple injuries inside his blazing Scimitar tank, despite efforts by colleagues to save him.
American requestAmerican request
Before the footage was leaked to the Sun, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) refused to allow it to be shown as evidence in court.Before the footage was leaked to the Sun, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) refused to allow it to be shown as evidence in court.
I've no doubt that were there culpability...that culpability would have been pursued David JohnsonUS embassy
The video will be brought to the court by an MoD official and shown to the coroner and L/Cpl Hull's family at the hearing in Oxford.The video will be brought to the court by an MoD official and shown to the coroner and L/Cpl Hull's family at the hearing in Oxford.
Mr Walker said he had reluctantly agreed to an American request not to show the footage in open court.Mr Walker said he had reluctantly agreed to an American request not to show the footage in open court.
At last month's hearing, he said: "I would be wrong to accept that the US are correct in seeking to bind the hands of the coroner's court in this way but in these circumstances I feel that in order to make progress and provide the family with closure, it seems to me that I must act in this way as far as the copy of that video is concerned."At last month's hearing, he said: "I would be wrong to accept that the US are correct in seeking to bind the hands of the coroner's court in this way but in these circumstances I feel that in order to make progress and provide the family with closure, it seems to me that I must act in this way as far as the copy of that video is concerned."
Thorough investigations
No American witnesses have been put forward for the inquest, which is expected to deliver a verdict on Wednesday.
Deputy chief of mission at the US embassy in the UK, David Johnson, said investigations into such incidents were "extremely thorough".
He told the BBC: "They're aimed at, in the first instance, preventing a recurrence, and in the second seeking to determine whether there is culpability, whether there should be charges, whether they're administrative in nature or whether potentially criminal, which would take place under the law which we expect these individuals to conduct themselves."
He added: "I've no doubt that were there culpability here under our laws and procedures, that culpability would have been pursued."