Morning:
8°c
The only soldier convicted over the death of Iraqi civilian Baha Mousa today accused an officer of abusing a prisoner.
Former corporal Donald Payne told the public inquiry into Mr Mousa's death how Lieutenant Craig Rodgers pretended to set a young detainee alight.
Payne also accused every member of the unit commanded by Lt Rodgers, known by the call sign G10A, of “forcefully kicking and/or punching” the group of Iraqi prisoners that included Mr Mousa.
He spoke out for the first time, having been the first British soldier to be convicted of a war crime when he admitted inhumane treatment at a court martial.
Hotel receptionist Mr Mousa, 26, died of 93 injuries in Basra on 15 September 2003 while in the custody of the former Queen's Lancashire Regiment.
In a statement today Payne said: “Each time I returned to the detention facility to ensure the detainees were awake, the degree of force I applied was greater than I have so far admitted. I saw all the members of the multiple in call sign G10A emulate me. I have seen each one, including Lt Rodgers, forcefully kick and/or punch the detainees between 14 and 16 September.
“[On] 15 September, I observed Lt Rodgers place a jerry can of petrol in front of the young boy. He poured water over him and then lit a match.”
Mr Rodgers, who left the Army in March 2007 having reached the rank of captain, denied allegations of abuse in his evidence last week.
Witnesses have told the central London inquiry they previously lied to protect Payne. The inquiry has been told British soldiers in Iraq used banned “conditioning” methods, such as hooding and sleep deprivation.
It was played a video showing Payne screaming obscenities at Mr Mousa and other hooded prisoners, calling them “apes”.
Payne, who was cleared of manslaughter and perverting the course of justice, was dismissed from the Army and sentenced to one year in jail after admitting inhumane treatment in September 2006.
His lawyer alleged other troops were also responsible for the abuse. Six other soldiers who faced the court martial were cleared on all counts in March 2007.
Payne claimed that the commanding officer of 1st Battalion QLR, Lieutenant Colonel Jorge Mendonca, was “gung ho” and “trigger-happy” in Iraq in 2003. He told the inquiry of an occasion where Lt Col Mendonca cocked his pistol, held it above a prisoner's mouth and threatened to “blow his face off”.
Lt Col Mendonca, who was later promoted to colonel, was charged with negligently performing a duty over the prisoner abuse but cleared at the court martial. The hearing continues.
