Lack of US Help Over Fatal Helicopter Crash in Iraq 'Inexcusable,' Says Coroner

By Aislinn Simpson, PA
Published: 17 April 2007
The coroner hearing an inquest into the deaths of eight servicemen in an American helicopter crash in Iraq has issued a list of demands for evidence he wants from the US.
Oxfordshire Assistant Deputy Coroner Andrew Walker said the lack of help from America was "inexcusable" and he expected an American safety report into the incident to be on his desk tomorrow morning.
Mr Walker was told by Ministry of Defence lawyer Wendy Outhwaite that the Americans had "expressly" forbidden release of the document.
She said: "I am afraid the US will not release authorisation to give it."
But Mr Walker told her: "I want to see that document and I think it's entirely unacceptable that a relevant document is something that I cannot see.
"I cannot simply dismiss a relevant document because the US military refuses to let me see it."
Following the opening of the Oxford inquest into the deaths, south of the Kuwaiti border early on March 21 2003, and some strong comment from the coroner, the Americans agreed to release a recording taken from inside one of the US Marine corps Sea Knights flying in formation into Iraq.
The infrared recording is thought to show the extent to which the aircraft could see each other, and could indicate whether the US investigation's conclusion - that the pilot became spatially disorientated - is correct.
But the coroner is still pushing for permission for the families of the dead servicemen to see the tape as well.
Mr Walker also mentioned footage filmed by an embedded crew from Fox News which he has tried to obtain, but it is not clear whether this is the same as the infrared footage or a different recording.
Mr Walker added to his list of demands an uncensored copy of the Jagman Report - the US report into the accident that considers whether any blame can be attributed for the crash - and a US engineering report.
He also hit out at the failure of the US to provide American witnesses from the Sea Knights around the one that crashed as it flew into Iraq just hours after the Americans began the bombardment campaign that would lead to the destruction of Saddam Hussein's regime.
Paul Spencer, representing the widow and family of one of the victims of the helicopter crash, Sergeant Les Hehir, 34, from Poole, Dorset, said widow Sharon Hehir felt the lack of co-operation was a "cover-up".
He told him: "It's a matter of deep regret and anger on her part that the Americans have refused to co-operate."
Mr Walker replied: "It seems to me inexcusable that witnesses could come to assist this inquest but they are not allowed to do so."

LinkHere