The ultimate betrayal

AS a 21-year- old soldier serving his country, Kevin Williams was merely doing his job when in 2003 he shot dead an Iraqi who tried to grab his gun after being caught pushing a cart of ammunition.

Yet he has been ruthlessly pursued through courts and tribunals ever since.

After two military inquiries cleared him of any wrongdoing, he was disgracefully forced to face a two- year criminal investigation and charged with murder.

But even when the trial collapsed and he returned to duty – hailed as a hero in 2009 for saving the lives of seven colleagues in Afghanistan – opportunistic lawyers refused to drop their claims.

Indeed, they have even threatened him with prosecution by the International Criminal Court. Now comes the ultimate betrayal. Though yet another inquiry has found the former soldier blameless, the Ministry of Defence now refuses to rule out paying compensation to the dead Iraqi’s family.

Meanwhile, Mr Williams himself has been left jobless and penniless by 12 years of ceaseless legal pressure.

As he puts it: ‘It is a disgrace that soldiers have to explain their actions so ambulance- chasing lawyers can abuse farcical rulings and line their pockets.’

If we treat our enemies so much better than our heroes, the wonder is that anyone is prepared to risk life and limb for Queen and country.