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U.S. Stiffs Brits in Friendly Fire Investigation

British coroner calls soldier's 2003 death "criminal"

By J. Kelman,  Newser User

Posted Mar 18, 2007 11:08 PM CDT

(Newser) – The British government is taking aim at the U.S. military for its role in covering up the 2003 friendly-fire death of a British solider in Iraq. A coroner’s report Friday ruled Lance Cpl. Matty Hull’s death at the hands of American pilots avoidable—and criminal—but the U.S. refuses to release the full military report on the incident.

The coroner's inquest revealed a tragedy of errors leading up to the American attack on a British convoy. "Things were not checked, the coordinates were not checked, identification of the British armored convoy was not checked, and if this had been checked in such a way as the rules of engagement state that they should be, then this could have been entirely avoidable," the coroner said.

A US marine CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter
A US marine CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter   (Getty Images (by Event))
In this handout picture taken 06 March 2007, A U.S Chinook helicopter...
In this handout picture taken 06 March 2007, A U.S Chinook helicopter...   (Getty Images (by Event))
British Soldiers Fatalities Of The War In Iraq
British Soldiers Fatalities Of The War In Iraq   (Getty Images)
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