British soldier admits war crime as court martial told of Iraqi civilian’s brutal death
‘Systematic’ abuse meted out at detention centre
· Commanding officer denies neglecting duty
Steven Morris
Wednesday September 20, 2006
A corporal in the Duke of Lancaster’s regiment became the first British soldier ever to be convicted of a war crime yesterday as a court martial heard that he and his colleagues systematically abused prisoners at a detention centre in southern Iraq. One civilian was killed and others tormented brutally while officers, including the most senior to be brought before a court martial in modern times, did nothing to stop the abuse, it was claimed.