On Friday 29 June 2007 the
inquest concerning the death of Corporal
Stephen John Allbutt resumed in Oxford, having been adjourned in April 2003.
Corporal Allbutt, a solider with the British Army, was tragically killed when his tank came under friendly fire by another British Army tank in
Southern Iraq on 25 March 2003. Law firm Leigh Day & Co represents his widow,
Debbie Allbutt, and two other soliders seriously injured in the incident,
Lance Corporal Daniel Twiddy and
Trooper Andrew Julien. Another solider,
Trooper David Clarke also tragically died in the incident, however, as no remains were left of his body there will be no separate inquest into his death.
The
Royal Military Police’s Special Investigative Branch carried out an investigation into the incident and referred the matter to the Army Prosecution Authority, which concluded in March 2004 that no individuals would face any criminal charges.
A
Military Board of Inquiry (BoI) was set up in March 2004 to examine and investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. The BoI’s findings were published in November 2005. The BoI made substantial criticisms of the failings that led to the deaths and injuries, concluding that relatively straightforward measures could have been implemented which would have prevented the tragedy occurring. In particular, the BoI concluded that the friendly fire could have been prevented had it not been for systemic problems in communication and had the soldiers involved been better trained and briefed.
The verdict of the Coroner, Mr Andrew Walker is expected on Friday 6 July 2007.
For further information please contact partner
Sapna Malik, on 0207 650 1222.
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