Robert Campbell: Former Army Major Cleared Over Iraqi Teenager's Death

Former British Army officer Robert Campbell has been cleared over the death of an Iraqi teenager.

He was one of three troops accused of forcing Saeed Shabram into a canal in Basra in 2003, before the teenager drowned.

Major (Retired) Campbell faced multiple investigations over the incident, with an eighth inquiry being launched in 2018 by Iraq Fatality Investigations (IFI).

Some people who said they were eyewitnesses had claimed Maj Campbell and other soldiers pushed Mr Shabram, and friend Munem Auda, into a river.

Mr Auda swam to safety but Mr Shabram slipped below the water and did not resurface, prompting the investigation.

In the IFI report, former appeal court judge Baroness Hallett concluded there is "no reliable evidence" that Maj Campbell or any other British soldier forced Mr Shabram and Mr Auda into the water.

"It is most likely that they jumped or fell into the water in the process of trying to escape what they believed would be dire punishment for looting," she added.

The report found that a number of civilian witnesses came forward to give evidence, claiming they had seen British soldiers push Mr Shabram into the water.

However, Baroness Hallett said in her report: "Most of the accounts given by Iraqi witnesses to investigators were analysed and rejected as inherently unreliable.

"I have concluded that there is clear evidence of collusion and possibly a conspiracy on the part of some Iraqi civilians to pervert the course of justice and the collusion/conspiracy likely began on the day Shabram died," she added.

Baroness Hallett also stated that British soldiers "did not use excessive force or treat [Mr Auda and Mr Shabram] in any way inappropriately in escorting them to the waterside".

Minister for Defence People and Veterans Johnny Mercer said: "My thanks go to Baroness Hallett for compiling this report, which concludes there is not enough reliable evidence of any British soldier contributing to the tragic death of Saeed Shabram.

"I truly hope these findings will bring some closure and reassurance to the family and veterans involved in this process.

"Nobody wants to see service personnel or veterans facing extensive reinvestigations into the same incident, and our Overseas Operations Bill will help provide greater certainty and protections in the future."