Head of army during Iraq war attacks commander of regiment in whose custody a Basra hotel worker was beaten to death
Richard Norton-Taylor
The head of the army during the invasion of Iraq delivered a withering attack on the commander of the regiment in whose custody a civilian was beaten to death.
"It is absolute bedrock to the British army's philosophy that a commanding officer is responsible for what goes on within his command," General Sir Michael Jackson told the inquiry into the death of Baha Mousa, a Basra hotel worker who died in September 2003.
The death of Mousa, 26, remained "a stain on the character of the British army", he added. The inquiry has heard that Mousa was hooded for 23 hours and 40 minutes during 36 hours in the custody of 1st Battalion the Queen's Lancashire Regiment before he died.
Asked if those below the commanding officer should have known what was going on, he said: "Those who were present in that place at the time of these dreadful events must answer that question". Jackson did not name him but the regiment was commanded by Colonel Jorge Mendonça, who was decorated before becoming the most senior British army officer to face a court martial in modern times. He was charged with negligently performing a duty but cleared in 2007.
He left the army seven months later, saying he believed he had been "hung out to dry" and made to feel like a "common criminal" by his commanders. Giving evidence to the inquiry earlier this year, Mendonça was asked whether he was accountable for Mousa's death. He replied: "As the commanding officer of that unit, yes, I do accept that responsibility".
