Regiment in fake photo storm to be charged over death of prisoner

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/legal/story.jsp?story=521760

16 May 2004

Soldiers from the Queen's Lancashire Regiment will be charged this week in relation to the death of Baha Mousa, an Iraqi hotel receptionist severely beaten while in British military custody.

Around six soldiers from the QLR - the regiment at the centre of the row over hoax pictures published in the Daily Mirror - face charges in relation to incidents in Iraq. Senior military officials said Geoff Hoon, the Secretary of State for Defence, will confirm "within days" the first criminal prosecutions against British soldiers since the war began.

The charges relate to two cases, one of which is the death of Mr Mousa, 28, revealed by this newspaper in January. Mr Hoon hinted at imminent action in the Commons last week. "Two cases have reached an advanced stage, with decisions on prosecutions pending," he said.

Although the nature of the second case is unknown, at least one soldier is likely to be be charged with manslaughter in connection with Mr Mousa. The severity of the charge, and the potential sentence on conviction, mean the case is expected to be heard in a civilian criminal court rather than at a court martial.

Supposedly, all of this killing of Iraqis is because* a group of Middle Eastern men hijacked U.S. aircraft and killed many by flying the a/c into U.S. buildings.

Why are the British so brutal?

* Government reason.