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A video of a British soldier screaming abuse at hooded Iraqi detainees was played today at a public inquiry into the death of a prisoner.
The film shows Corporal Donald Payne, formerly of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment, shouting and swearing at the Iraqis who were forced to adopt
painful “stress positions”.
One of the detainees, hotel receptionist Baha Mousa, 26, died while in the custody of the British soldiers in Basra, southern Iraq, in September 2003.
An inquiry opened today into his death and the British Army's use of socalled conditioning techniques to “soften-up” prisoners for interrogation.
The hearing was told that Mr Mousa died after a “struggle” with Cpl Payne and another soldier, Private Aaron Cooper.
Warning: this video contains explicit language
Gerard Elias QC, counsel to the inquiry, said that according to witnesses Cpl Payne was trying to restrain Mr Mousa by putting his knee on the
detainee's back and pulling his arm back to put plastic handcuffs on him.
He went on: “It has been suggested that Baha Mousa's head was banged on the floor or wall as this was happening.”
Different pathologists gave the cause of Mr Mousa's death as either asphyxia and multiple injuries or asphyxia alone, the inquiry heard. Mr Elias said of the film: “Even if one considers only the video that we have just looked at, it may be thought to be entirely apparent that these detainees were being
subjected to stress positions and prolonged
hooding.”
Another civilian detained with Mr Mousa was allegedly forced by British troops to dance “like Michael Jackson”, and Mr Elias said other detainees claimed they were urinated on and
forced to lie face down over a hole in the ground filled with excrement.
The inquiry also heard that British troops in
foreign war zones were undermined by the death of Mr Mousa.
The hearing was told that the only people to benefit were extremists who used such suspicious deaths in British military custody as a rallying cry.
Mr Elias said: “Such an event can act as a rallying cry for extremists, with all the pressures that that puts on those men and women still on active service.
To be seen to be dealing with such allegations
in a comprehensive and fair way may not of itself heal the wounds, but perhaps it goes some way to provide reassurance both to those who
may have been wronged and to those who have nothing to fear from the truth.
“That is why we say it is important that this inquiry takes place.” Mr Elias said detainees claimed abuse started almost immediately after their arrest and detention in a search for
“regime loyalists”.
The hearing continues.
Reader views (4)
BLOODY COWARDS BULLIES STOP TRYING TO DEFEND THE SPINELESS SOLDIERS WHO TORTURED THES GUYS,THIER ACTIONS WERE DEPLORABLE WE ARE MEANT TO BE THE CIVILISED ONES HERE NOT BARBARIANS WHAT A COWARD TO BEAT THESE GUYS UP WITH THIER HANDS TIED UP HOW PATHETIC CAN YOU GET.
- James Fennessey, london
funny how the families are quick to take the money in compensation and THEN they want justice. Who cares except the lawyers.
- Jon, london
Good thing is that he is only shouting at them ,and not beheading them as Islamic extremists would do.No wonder Brits are fighting with one hand tied behind them.
- Surj, london
We need to remember that soldiers are trained to be aggressive killing machines, not soft skill experts.
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke, Hants
