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15/03/2006
Red Caps' families hear details of deaths
A number of relatives of the six Royal Military Policemen killed by a mob in Iraq have left an inquest in tears after hearing how they died.
The inquest at Oxford Coroners Court heard how Cpl Russell Aston, 30, was shot 13 times in his forehead, cheek, neck, chest, back and arms, forensic pathologist Dr Nathaniel Carey told the court.
Dr Carey also said that Sgt Simon Hamilton-Jewell had been shot at least 14 times and had possible been lying on his side when he was shot.
The bullets could have been fired from a Kalashnikov or AK-47 assault rifle, the court heard.
A number of relatives of the soldiers left the court in tears as the details were read out.
The Red Caps were killed when a mob attacked the police station they were in, in the town of Majar al-Kabir in June 2003.
The men who died were: Sgt Simon Hamilton-Jewell, 41, from Chessington, Surrey; Cpl Russell Aston, 30, from Swadlincote, Derbyshire; Cpl Paul Long, 24, from Colchester; Cpl Simon Miller, 21, from Tyne & Wear; L/Cpl Benjamin McGowan Hyde, 23, from Northallerton, North Yorkshire; and L/Cpl Tom Keys, 20, from Bala, Wales.
An inquiry conducted by the Ministry of Defence concluded that there was no conclusive evidence that the six deaths could have been prevented.
However, the families of the men have made accusations of negligence.
(KMcA/GB)
The inquest at Oxford Coroners Court heard how Cpl Russell Aston, 30, was shot 13 times in his forehead, cheek, neck, chest, back and arms, forensic pathologist Dr Nathaniel Carey told the court.
Dr Carey also said that Sgt Simon Hamilton-Jewell had been shot at least 14 times and had possible been lying on his side when he was shot.
The bullets could have been fired from a Kalashnikov or AK-47 assault rifle, the court heard.
A number of relatives of the soldiers left the court in tears as the details were read out.
The Red Caps were killed when a mob attacked the police station they were in, in the town of Majar al-Kabir in June 2003.
The men who died were: Sgt Simon Hamilton-Jewell, 41, from Chessington, Surrey; Cpl Russell Aston, 30, from Swadlincote, Derbyshire; Cpl Paul Long, 24, from Colchester; Cpl Simon Miller, 21, from Tyne & Wear; L/Cpl Benjamin McGowan Hyde, 23, from Northallerton, North Yorkshire; and L/Cpl Tom Keys, 20, from Bala, Wales.
An inquiry conducted by the Ministry of Defence concluded that there was no conclusive evidence that the six deaths could have been prevented.
However, the families of the men have made accusations of negligence.
(KMcA/GB)
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