Investigation into Iraq soldiers in limbo after judge dies
VETERANS under investigation over the death of an Iraqi teenager 16 years ago have been left in limbo after the judge in charge of the inquiry died.
Sir George Newman, the Iraq Fatality Investigations (IFI) inspector, died suddenly on Sunday, 15 months after he began a judicial inquiry into the drowning of Saeed Shabram, 19, in 2003.
Three former soldiers are under scrutiny by IFI over Mr Shabram’s death in the Shatt al Arab waterway at Basra docks.
One of the soldiers – a major commended for gallantry and wounded in Afghanistan – has spoken of his sadness at Sir George’s death and his concern that his case will now drag on even longer.
Major Robert Campbell has complained the IFI inquiry is the eighth he has faced in 16 years. He is now calling on Penny Mordaunt, the Defence Secretary, to wind up IFI.
The inquiry was set up by the Ministry of Defence in the wake of a High Court ruling in a case brought by Phil Shiner, a solicitor struck off for dishonesty, who represented the families of Iraqis who alleged human rights abuses by British troops.
Mr Campbell, 46, who denies any wrongdoing, said: “I am very sad for the family of Sir George but I also question where that leaves us.
“We are in our 17th year with this hanging over us. If Penny Mordaunt is serious about stopping these witch hunts, this is a good place to start.”
The case was referred to IFI after another investigation – by the now disbanded Iraq Historical Allegations Team (Ihat) – concluded that Mr Campbell and two other veterans should not be prosecuted.
IFI, set up in 2014 under Sir George’s stewardship, has completed seven inquiries and is understood to have a number ongoing, including the death of Mr Shabram.
The cases were passed to IFI by Ihat, which was shut down by the Government in the wake of the Shiner scandal.
A source said the small team who worked within IFI were shocked and devastated by Sir George’s death from heart problems at the age of 77. He presided over a preliminary hearing into the Shabram case last month.
The IFI source said: “We are in mourning this week but still very much committed to continuing the work. That is what he would want us to do.”
An MoD spokesman said: “We have a legal obligation to ensure the facts of alleged incidents are reported and a successor to Sir George will be appointed in due course.
“We are consulting on new measures, including a presumption against prosecution, to ensure service personnel and veterans are not subject to legal proceedings many years after events where there is no new evidence.”