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Activist's family launch legal bid
Last updated at 00:00am on 23.03.04
Tom Hurndall: died while trying to help Palestinian children
The family of a peace activist from north London shot dead by Israeli troops are launching a legal challenge to gain access to full details of the investigation into his killing, it has been revealed.
Tom Hurndall, 22, died in January after spending nine months in a coma after being shot in the head while trying to help Palestinian children at a military checkpoint in Gaza.
Today, his mother, Jocelyn Hurndall, voiced concerns that an Israeli soldier charged with manslaughter over his death may be being used as a scapegoat.
Her family has instructed lawyers to take an appeal to the Israeli Supreme Court, demanding full access to the evidence gathered in the military police investigation into the shooting.
The family was given a three-page summary of the investigation earlier this month, but has been told it will not be shown the full evidence, including statements from witnesses apparently challenging the official version of events.
The soldier himself is apparently now claiming that he was following orders from above when he fired his gun.
Mrs Hurndall told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It should contain transcripts of statements made by soldiers and colleagues, all of whom were initially claiming that the sergeant who shot Tom was being hung out to dry.
"There are crucial questions which need to be answered and we can only answer those by having full access."
Although senior Israeli officials have promised Prime Minister Tony Blair and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw a full investigation of Mr Hurndall's death, Mrs Hurndall said the family had been obstructed in its search for the truth.
