Verdict considered in Iraq trial

Photos of the alleged abuse were shown during the court martial

Seven senior military officers have retired to consider a verdict in the court martial of three British soldiers accused of abusing Iraqis.

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 judge concluded his summing up on Tuesday, telling the panel there was no time pressure to deliver a verdict.

The trial in Osnabrueck, Germany, began five weeks ago.

The panel of officers will return on Wednesday to continue their deliberations.

He told them it was "very easy in a trial such as this, where there is a larger amount of evidence to deduce, to lose sight of the evidence as a whole".

He urged the panel to retain a "bird's eye view" of the important issues in the case.

Photos

He had earlier told the panel to put aside any sympathy for the defendants or alleged victims.

He also advised them to ignore comments by "eminent public figures".

A collection of 22 photographs showing the alleged abuse were presented at the court martial.

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.

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

Unlawful mission

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.

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 claimed that the alleged abuse stemmed from a mission which took place at the camp to capture and deter looters - a mission they say was unlawful.

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