Judge says 'put aside sympathy'

Photos of the alleged abuse were shown during the court martial.

The judge at a court martial in Germany has told the panel to put aside sympathy for the alleged victims of the abuse or for the defendants.

The court martial of three British soldiers accused of abusing Iraqi prisoners is nearing an end.

The judge also said they should ignore statements by "eminent public figures".

L/Cpl Darren Larkin admits one assault but Cpl Daniel Kenyon and L/Cpl Mark Cooley deny the alleged abuse at Camp Bread Basket, Basra, during May 2003.

The seven senior military officers on the panel are expected to retire to deliberate on their verdicts on Tuesday.

'Immense concern'

A collection of photographs showing the alleged abuse were presented at the court martial.

But Judge Advocate Michael Hunter said the panel should "put aside feelings of sympathy" for the defendants or any of the alleged victims in the photographs.

The consequences of your verdict in this very public trial are not a matter that should concern you at all Judge Advocate Michael Hunter

"The consequences of your verdict in this very public trial are not a matter that should concern you at all," he said.

He said there had been an "immense amount" of public interest and concern surrounding the case which had provoked public figures to express their opinions.

He ordered the panel to ignore any of the statements they may have heard.

Earlier in the trial Prime Minister Tony Blair and senior Army officers spoke out after the photographs were shown around the world.

This prompted the judge to urge public figures to stop commenting on the case to avoid prejudicing the trial.

'Illegal operation'

L/Cpl Cooley, 25, is accused of simulating a punch and driving a forklift truck with an Iraqi suspended from the prongs.

Cpl Kenyon, 33, the most senior soldier on trial, faces several charges including failure to report alleged abuse, and aiding and abetting abuse with other soldiers.

Cpl Kenyon denies the charges

L/Cpl Larkin, 30, has pleaded guilty to assault after he was pictured standing on top of an Iraqi. He was cleared of the other charges he faced.

In their defence the soldiers have claimed that the alleged abuse stemmed from an unlawful mission which took place at the camp to capture and deter looters.

The mission, which was codenamed Operation Ali Baba, was ordered by the camp's commanding officer Maj Dan Taylor.

During the trial, Maj Taylor admitted telling the troops to "work [the prisoners] hard" but denied ordering them to "beast" the detainees.

Prosecution lawyers said this was in breach of the Geneva Convention.