The British Army will face a public inquiry over the torture and subsequent death of an Iraqi hotel worker in its custody, the Defence Secretary confirmed on Wednesday.
The Defence Secretary Des Browne said in a written statement to Parliament that a public enquiry would ensure lessons could be learned.
Baha Mousa suffered 93 separate injuries and died of asphyxia while he was held by the Queen’s Lancashire Regiment at a British Army base in Basra in September 2003.
Seven members of the QLR faced court martial over the incident but all were eventually acquitted, including QLR commanding officer Colonel Jorge Mendonca.
One, Corporal Donald Payne, 35, became the first British serviceman to admit a war crime, that of treating Iraqi prisoners inhumanely and was jailed for a year.
Mr Mousa’s family and eight other Iraqis held in custody launched a claim for compensation through the British courts and the Government admitted it breached the 26-year-old father of two’s human rights and would pay damages.
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