Court orders UK to hold inquiries into illegal civilian deaths during Iraq War

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/05/24/court-orders-uk-to-hold-inquiries-into-illegal-civilian-deaths-during-iraq-war/



High court rules that up to 161 allegedly unlawful killings by British military should be subject of coroner-style hearings

Court orders UK to hold inquiries into illegal civilian deaths during Iraq War
By Ian Cobain, The Guardian
Friday, May 24, 2013 15:58 EDT

A series of public inquests should be held into the deaths of civilians who are alleged to have been killed unlawfully by the British military following the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the high court has ruled.

In a ground-breaking judgment that could have an impact on how the British military is able to conduct operations among civilians in the future, the court ruled on Friday that up to 161 deaths should be the subject of hearings modelled upon coroners’ inquests.

In practice, a series of hearings – possibly amounting to more than 100 – are likely to be held as a result of the judgment, which follows a three-year legal battle on behalf of the Iraqis’ families.

Each hearing must involve a “full, fair and fearless investigation accessible to the victim’s families and to the public”, the court ruled, and should examine not only the immediate circumstances but other issues surrounding each death.