Baha Mousa

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Baha Mousa was an Iraqi civilian who died whilst in British custody in Basra during September 2003.

On 14 September 2003 Baha, a 26 year old hotel receptionist, was arrested along with six other men and taken to a British base. Whilst in detention it is claimed that Baha and the other captives were hooded and severely assaulted by a number of British troops. Two days later Baha was found dead [1]. A post-mortem examination found that Baha suffered multiple injuries (at least ninety-three), including fractured ribs and a broken nose, which were 'in part' the cause of his death[2].

Currently, seven members of the Duke of Lancaster regiment are on trial accused of several charges relating to the ill treatment of detainees, including those of war crimes under the International Criminal Court Act 2001. On September 19, 2006, Corporal Donald Payne plead guilty to a charge of inhumane treatment to persons making him the first member of the British armed forces to plead guilty to a war crime [3].

[edit] Court rulings based on this case

  1. Col Jorge Mendonca - cleared of negligently performing a duty
  2. Sgt Kelvin Stacey - cleared of common assault
  3. L/Cpl Wayne Crowcroft - cleared of inhumane treatment
  4. Pte Darren Fallon - cleared of inhumane treatment
  5. Cpl Donald Payne - admitted inhumane treatment, cleared of manslaughter and perverting the course of justice
  6. Warrant Officer Mark Davies - charged with negligently performing a duty
  7. Maj Michael Peebles - charged with negligently performing a duty [1]

BBC Timeline of the case

[edit] References

  1. ^ Robert Fisk (December 15, 2004). Who Killed Baha Mousa?. The Independent. Retrieved on September 23, 2006.
  2. ^ British soldier admits war crime. BBC News (19 September 2006). Retrieved on September 23, 2006.
  3. ^ Devika Bhat; Jenny Booth (September 19 2006). British soldier is first to admit war crime. Times Online. Retrieved on September 23, 2006.