Iraqi court delays trial of British geologist

THE family of a West man facing the death penalty in Iraq for collecting “souvenirs” during a geology tour say they have been given a “glimmer of hope” after his trial was delayed to allow them to prepare a defence.

Father-of-two Jim Fitton, 66, is being held in Iraq over smuggling allegations during his first visit to the country for a geology and archaeology tour.

As reported yesterday the retired geologist made his first appearance at a Baghdad court alongside German tourist Volker Waldmann on Sunday.

But the expected trial did not go ahead and was postponed until Sunday May 22 to allow the defence more time to submit evidence.

Jim’s children - Joshua and Leila, and Leila’s husband Sam Tasker - have set up a petition to press the UK Government to assist with the case, which has collected over 272,000 signatures.

Sam, 27, said the family, originally from Bath, were pleased the court seemed to be taking his situation seriously.

He added: “We had the initial hearing on Sunday where both charges were read and the cross-examination took place but the rest of the trial was postponed till next week in order to allow us to admit more evidence for Jim’s defence.

“It’s hard to say it’s good news. We have been optimistic and been let down over and over again throughout this process.

“But we are certainly not disappointed with what happened yesterday. Jim was given the opportunity to defend himself and the court seems to be taking him seriously”.

On Sunday, Mr Fitton told judges he and Mr Waldmann had not acted with criminal intent after collecting 12 stones and shards of broken pottery as souvenirs while visiting a site in Eridu, in south-east Iraq.

Mr Fitton said he “suspected” the items he collected were ancient fragments, reveal local reports.

But he told the court “at the time I didn’t know about Iraqi laws” or that taking the shards was not permitted.

The court heard Mr Fitton was in the habit of collecting such fragments as a hobby and had no intention to sell them given his background as a geologist.

The three-judge panel in Baghdad’s felony court must determine whether the defendants had sought to profit by taking the items.

Mr Fitton lives in Malaysia with his wife Sarijah while his daughter Leila Fitton, 31, and her husband Sam Tasker are based in Bath, where Jim previously lived.

The case was also raised in the House of Commons by Bath MP Wera Hobhouse last week.