British Army Major To Face Eighth Inquiry Into Death Of Iraqi Teenager

A former British Army Officer is being investigated for the eighth time over the death of a 19-year-old in 2003.

Major Robert Campbell, of the Royal Engineers, and two colleagues were investigated after Iraqi teen Said Shabram drowned in a river.

The Army Prosecuting Authority did not press charges.

After the three soldiers were cleared of manslaughter, there were repeated follow up inquiries into the incident, including a civil case, and an investigation by the now-defunct Iraq Historical Allegations Team (IHAT).

Now, the death is to be investigated by the Iraq Fatality Investigations (IFI), a government-funded body that describes itself as "a form of inquest and judicial inquiry".

The IFI's claims that their task is to determine the circumstance in which a death occurred not to decide criminal or civil liability. Their website states they inquire "into all the circumstances surrounding allegations of unlawful killing by British forces".  

Major Campell, who has just been awarded a medal for good conduct and long service, said he is "broken" after learning about the new inquiry.

MP for Plymouth Moor View Johnny Mercer tweeted: 

"This is not acceptable now, as it wasn't when we were getting rid of IHAT."

"I do not accept that the UK Government cannot protect its soldiers from experiences like this. If we have to go again, we will go again."

He added: "Iraq Fatalities Inquiry was founded as a result of court cases involving Phil Shiner. It is not plausible to continue this process. Requires political leadership; let's show it."

An MoD spokesperson said:

“The welfare of our personnel is of the utmost importance and we have a legal obligation to ensure the full facts of the alleged incidents are known.

"The Iraq Fatality Investigations do not conduct criminal investigations of soldiers, cases only take place once the prospect of criminal prosecution is eliminated, and individuals are granted anonymity."