Jorge Mendonca leaves the Baha Mousa public inquiry Photograph: Lewis Whyld/PA
15 February 2010 Commander of soldiers who were detaining Baha Mousa admitted he had condoned practices banned as inhumane 38 years ago
The commander of the regiment whose soldiers were detaining Baha Mousa, an Iraqi civilian, when he died admitted todayhe had condoned practices banned as inhumane 38 years ago.
Colonel Jorge Mendonca also admitted responsibility as commander of 1st Battalion the Queen's Lancashire Regiment for the death in 2003 of the 26-year-old Basra hotel receptionist in his soldiers' custody.
Asked whether he was ultimately accountable for Mousa's death, he said: "As the commanding officer of that unit, yes, I do accept that responsibility." -->-->-->
Attorney general 'blocked' system to stop prisoner abuse
16 March 2010
Refusal to appoint review panel and British judge to oversee Iraqi detainee treatment came from top, inquiry hears
Abuse of Iraqi prisoners by British troops would have been prevented if the former attorney general Lord Goldsmith had not blocked a British judge being appointed to oversee the handling of detainees, a public inquiry heard today.
The army's former top legal adviser in Iraq said he could not understand why there was strong opposition to the military's requests for an independent review of how UK troops treated captives.
Lieutenant Colonel Nicholas Mercer said he believed the lack of a checking process led to the abuse of prisoners. -->-->-->
Eight or more civilians died in British custody
16 March 2010 Legal chief tells of killings and torture in early days of invasion
Eight or more civilians died in the custody of British troops in the weeks after the invasion of Iraq, despite frequent warnings by the army's most senior legal adviser there about unlawful treatment of detainees, an inquiry has heard.
In devastating evidence to an official inquiry, Lieutenant Colonel Nicholas Mercer described the way Iraqi detainees were intimidated and hooded by British soldiers as "repulsive". He said that 10 days after the invasion in March 2003 he saw 20 or 30 detainees lined up with sandbags on their heads.
He was shocked, he said, adding that it was "a bit like seeing pictures of Guantánamo Bay for the first time". -->-->-->
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