**Eight Iraqis have been arrested over the deaths of six Royal Military Police officers in 2003, the BBC has learned.**The Red Caps were killed by a mob in the town of Majar al-Kabir in southern Iraq while they were on a routine operation to train local police.
An Army spokesman said a judge had indicated there was enough evidence for the suspects to face trial.
“We are assisting the Iraqi government in every way possible to secure convictions,” he added.
The six Red Caps killed included Sgt Simon Hamilton-Jewell, 41, from Chessington, Surrey, and Cpl Russell Aston, 30 from Swadlincote, Derbyshire.
Cpl Paul Long, 24, of Colchester, L/Cpl Benjamin McGowan Hyde, 23, from Northallerton, North Yorkshire, L/Cpl Tom Keys, 20, from Bala, North Wales, and Cpl Simon Miller, 21, from Tyne and Wear, also died.
‘Good news’
A total of 16 arrest warrants relating to the murders have been issued by the Iraqi authorities since 2006. Eleven people have been detained, with three later released due to lack of evidence or mistaken identity.
“We should recognise that referral to trial does not inevitably lead to a conviction”
Army spokesman
An Army spokesman said: "The UK government is committed to seeing the killers of the six Royal Military Police personnel brought to justice and our thoughts remain with the families of those who died throughout this difficult process.
"The case is now at the investigative stage where the judge reviews the evidence. He has indicated that eight suspects now in custody will go to trial.
“This is good news and demonstrates the continued commitment of the Iraqi authorities to this case. However, we should recognise that referral to trial does not inevitably lead to a conviction.”
The Iraqi criminal procedure involves two stages - an investigative stage and a trial stage.
RED CAPS
- Sgt Simon Hamilton-Jewell, 41
- Cpl Russell Aston, 30
- Cpl Paul Long, 24
- L/Cpl Benjamin McGowan Hyde, 23
- Cpl Simon Miller, 21
- L/Cpl Tom Keys, 20
During the former, a judge collects and reviews the evidence, often over a period of many months.
The Army spokesman said: "We do not know how long this stage will take, and we must not unduly interfere with the Iraqi process.
“Officials in Baghdad and the UK are working to provide the judge with any supplementary information that he might require, including access to all RMP investigative material.”
Once the case comes to trial, a panel of judges, rather than a jury, will examine the evidence before coming to a verdict, usually in a matter of days.
The BBC understands there is no start date in place for a trial because the investigating judge has initiated a search for new witnesses and issued a request to the Iraqi interior ministry for any police reports relating to the murders.
But a Royal Military Police liaison officer has been sent to Baghdad to help the judge interpret evidence provided by the UK.
‘Poorly equipped’
Events in Baghdad are also believed to have affected the pace of the investigation.
The justice ministry was heavily bombed last October and staff forced to move into temporary accommodation. Baghdad’s main courthouse also suffered damage in an attack in December.
An inquest into the Red Caps’ killings in March 2006 found that the men had been given antiquated radios and inadequate ammunition.
But Coroner Nicholas Gardiner ruled that their deaths could not have been avoided.
However, the families of the men have called for an independent inquiry, arguing that negligence by Army personnel led to their deaths.