Gurkhas charged over Belize death

The Gurkhas are being held in Britain

Six British Army Gurkhas have been charged in connection with the death of a 14-year-old boy in Belize.

David Zabaneh died after he was caught up in a brawl involving up to 25 troops outside a nightclub in Belize City.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said the Gurkhas were being held in military prisons in the United Kingdom until a court martial could be held.

David was the son of a prominent businessman in Belize and had been drinking with friends, including the son of the country's prime minister, when he was fatally injured, in May 2001.

Coma

The MoD spokesman said the charges followed an investigation by the Royal Military Police, with the support of Belizean authorities.

Belizean officials will be able to attend the court martial.

"The lad got caught up in a fight between a group of Gurkha soldiers and died as a result of his injuries," the spokesman told BBC News Online.

David slipped into a coma and died after being flown to a hospital in Tampa in the US for treatment.

On duty

The Gurkhas, from the 2nd Parachute Regiment, based at Colchester in Essex, were at the end of a six-week training exercise in jungle warfare.

They were based at British Army Training Unit headquarters at Price Barracks, near the city.

The Gurkhas had been due to return to their base in Colchester soon after the exercise ended, but they were detained in Belize while an investigation began.

Since then they have been back on operational duties for Britain.

The MoD spokesman said: "They have been serving in the Balkans, they have been serving in Afghanistan - wherever we have sent them."

Gurkhas, who are recruited from Nepal, have fought for the British Army for nearly 200 years.