Second beating alleged in UK court-martial for Iraqi death News
Second beating alleged in UK court-martial for Iraqi death

[JURIST] An Iraqi taxi driver testifying Tuesday at a court-martial of seven British soldiers [JURIST report] for the alleged murder of an Iraqi civilian said he was also beaten by the troops. Through translated testimony, Athar Finnijan Saddam told jurors that he was carrying passengers in southern Iraq in May 2003 when the soldiers stopped him, dragged him from the car and beat him. One of the passengers was Nadhem Abdullah, who was allegedly beaten so severely by the soldiers that he later died. Proceedings in the case opened last week [JURIST report], before being adjourned and then halted Monday after it was revealed that one of the jurors knew one of the defendants [BBC News report]. Prosecutors have argued the troops were not under attack or defending themselves at the time of the incident. AFP has more.