UK Soldier on Iraq Murder Charge

[Guest Lottie]

A 21-year-old British soldier will appear in court charged with the murder of an Iraqi civilian.

Trooper Kevin Lee Williams, of the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, will appear at Bow Street Magistrates' Court in London later on Tuesday.

The charge relates to Hassan Said, an Iraqi citizen who died in Ad-Dayr, in south-eastern Iraq, on 3 August 2003.

Metropolitan Police detectives arrested the soldier, who is being held at a London police station.

The Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith, prompted the arrest of the soldier.

Police investigation

He said: "This case, which involves an alleged unlawful killing by shooting of an Iraqi citizen during the course of an arrest, was brought to my attention after charges were dismissed by the soldier's Commanding Officer.

"This meant the case could not be tried by court martial. I referred it to the CPS who asked the Metropolitan Police for assistance in collecting further evidence."

A police statement said: "Earlier this year the Attorney General, via the CPS, asked the Metropolitan Police to investigate the death of Mr Said.

"An investigation was launched by the Met's Homicide Command, which is part of the Specialist Crime Directorate."

In August of this year, British troops went on high alert in the Iraqi city of Basra after one soldier was killed and others injured in clashes with militiamen.

The loss of that soldier took the number of deaths of British service personnel in Iraq to 65.

Source