Murdered Redcap’s brother in trial call

Nov 17 2008 by Dan Warburton, The Journal

THE brother of a murdered Tyneside soldier last night urged British forces to prosecute an arrested Iraqi man under UK laws.

Byron Long spoke after it emerged an Iraqi man had been arrested in connection with the killing of his brother, Corporal Paul Long, 24, of South Shields, along with five other British Redcaps in June 2003.

Also among those killed at the police station near Basra was Corporal Simon Miller, 21, from Washington. The group were shot dead when a mob of 600 Iraqis attacked the station.

Yesterday it emerged that an Iraqi man was being interviewed at a secure location in Iraq.

Army intelligence officers are hopeful the detainee will disclose the whereabouts of five other suspects who are being hunted.

Last night Byron Long said he hoped that if the accused was found guilty, he would not be handed the death penalty.

Mr Long said: “When I heard the news, I felt like there was a bit of justice coming through. It’s still only the one guy though and he is going to be judged under Iraqi laws.

“That worries me because as far as I know, he will not serve a prison sentence, and I don’t want him to be killed.

“It’s comforting to know that things are moving along, but I want him to be tried as if he were in Britain.

“I want all six of them caught because they are all culprits. It’s important they are all found so I know the person who pulled the trigger and killed my brother is caught.”

The six Royal Military Police members were trapped in a small police station in a southern Iraq town where they had been training local law enforcement officers.

Hundreds laid siege to the building for three hours before killing the Redcaps.

Until now, the Ministry of Defence has told the victims’ families they were unable to arrest any suspects because it would create a political upheaval.

But following a five-year joint intelligence operation by UK and Iraqi forces, progress is finally being made.

And last night Mr Long said the burden of the investigation had put the last five years of his life on hold.

The 24-year-old, who now lives in Heaton, Newcastle, said: “It’s been very difficult. I’ve tried to get on with my life but there’s this huge event which has basically turned my life upside down.

“Life is now a lot more difficult. He was a typical brother. We used to fight like cat and dog but we had this kind of respect and brotherly love for each other.”

An inquest held in 2006 recorded the six men had been unlawfully killed.

The MoD was criticised for sending the men to a hostile town without adequate weapons, ammunition or communications which could have allowed nearby British troops to rescue them.

An MoD spokesman said: “We can confirm that an individual has been detained by the Iraqi authorities in relation to this investigation. The case falls within the jurisdiction of the Iraqi courts but British authorities will provide assistance.”