IRAQ: British security contractor pleads not guilty to shooting dead two colleagues
Record ID:
183888
IRAQ: British security contractor pleads not guilty to shooting dead two colleagues
- Title: IRAQ: British security contractor pleads not guilty to shooting dead two colleagues
- Date: 21st February 2011
- Summary: BAGHDAD, IRAQ (FEBRUARY 20, 2011) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF AL-KARKH COURT IN BAGHDAD EMBLEM OF HIGH SUPREME COUNCIL U.S. LAWYERS GETTING OUT OF COURT DANNY FITZSIMONS BEING LED BY IRAQI SECURITY FORCES OUT OF COURT MORE OF FITZSIMONS WITH IRAQI SECURITY FORCES (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FAEQ, AN IRAQI LAWYER, SAYING: "The Iraqi court, and according to Iraqi Law, has identified the nature of the crime. The British man is accused of killing two foreigners and wounding an Iraqi national and because the scene of the crime was here in, he will be tried according to Iraqi law." FITZSIMONS WITH IRAQI SECURITY FORCES IRAQI MILITARY VEHICLES/ SECURITY FORCES BESIDE MILITARY VEHICLE LEAVING COURT IRAQI POLICE VEHICLE DRIVING IN FRONT OF MILITARY VEHICLE OF FITZSIMONS VEHICLES LEAVING COURT
- Embargoed: 8th March 2011 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Iraq, Iraq
- Country: Iraq
- Reuters ID: LVA6YQSECYBY5NTCTAI2RP029GCP
- Story Text: A British security contractor on trial for killing two of his colleagues in Iraq in August, 2009 has to wait to find out his fate after a second adjournment of his trial on Sunday (February 20).
According to court sources, the trial of Danny Fitzsimons has been adjourned to February 28 to allow the court have a full explanation of the phrase "Disorders of post-traumatic stress" which was mentioned in the medical report on the accused mental state.
Danny's trial on January 24 was adjourned for more psychiatric tests to allow the court consider his mental state at the time of shooting.
Fitzsimons, a former paratrooper could face the death penalty if convicted for the killing of his two colleagues, the British Paul McGuigan and Australian Darren Hoare. He is also accused of the attempted murder of an Iraqi guard.
An Iraqi lawyer said that the British contractor would be tried according to Iraqi law.
"The Iraqi court and according to the Iraqi Law has identified the nature of the crime. The British man is accused of killing two foreigners and wounding an Iraqi national and because the scene of the crime was here in, he will be tried according to Iraqi law."
Danny Fitzsimons, 30, is the first Westerner to be tried by an Iraqi court since the start of the Iraq war nearly eight years ago.
Fitzsimons could receive the death penalty if convicted on the murder charges.
He repeatedly asked the judges to let him talk about his mental condition after being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder by an Iraqi medical committee. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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