Baha Mousa inquest: Soldiers "part of rotten barrel"
British soldiers responsible for death of Iraqi civilian Baha Mousa not just a "few bad apples"
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By Tom Powell. |  |
Monday, 21, Sep 2009 04:16
By Richard James.
The British soldiers responsible for the death of Iraqi civilian Baha Mousa were not just a "few bad apples" but part of a much wider problem, a public inquest has heard.
The 26-year-old hotel receptionist died in British military custody in Basra, southern Iraq, in September 2003 after being subjected to sustained abuse.
Rabinder Singh, counsel for Mr Mousel's family and other Iraqi detainees told an inquest into his death on Monday: "This case is not just about beatings or a few bad apples.
"There is something rotten in the whole barrel."
Mr Singh said troops in Iraq routinely used banned interrogation methods thinking they were not illegal.
The inquest was played a short video reportedly showing Corporal Donald Payne screaming at hooded Iraqi prisoners, including Mr Mousa, and calling them "apes".
In 2007, Cpl Payne was jailed for a year and released from the Army after being convicted of war crimes charges related to Mr Mousa's death.
The hotel receptionist was arrested along with nine other Iraqis at a hotel in Basra on September 14th by soldiers from the former Queen's Lancashire Regiment after weapons were discovered.
The detainees were then taken to thee Battle Group Main camp where they were allegedly subjected to "conditioning techniques".
Mr Mousa died two days later after suffering asphyxiation with at least 93 injuries to his body.
Mr Singh said it was hugely concerning that the alleged abuse took place not behind closed but in a temporary detention facility, meaning people would have seen or heard what was happening.
One of the other detainees has even claimed to have heard Mr Mousa scream: "Oh my God, I'm going to die, I'm going to die," during the ordeal.
Addressing the inquest, Mr Singh said: "This gives rise to serious questions about the professionalism of the outfit and whether the culture was one of impunity, [and] about the capacity of the regiment's members to question and challenge abuse."
Seven soldiers faced a court martial following Mr Mousa's death. However, all but Cpl Payne were cleared on all counts.
Mr Mousa's father is due to give evidence to the inquest on Wednesday.