LONDON -Murder charges will not be brought against a British special forces soldier being investigated after the death of an Iraqi civilian, The Sunday Telegraph reported. Lawyers made the decision last week not to prosecute the corporal from the elite Special Air Service (SAS), who faced charges in connection with the death of Ghanin Gatteh Al-Roomi, the newspaper said.Roomi was shot dead following an incident on the Shatt Al-Arab waterway in southern Iraq on January 1 2004 when a boat carrying SAS members and officers from Britainâs overseas intelligence service MI6 came under fire. He was killed after being traced to a nearby village and seen with an assault rifle going into a house. The corporal reportedly fired a number of rounds through the door because he thought he was about to be shot at himself.
The Sunday Telegraph said the decision not to prosecute followed an internal report by an SAS officer and submitted to lawyers at the British Attorney Generalâs Office that stated the corporal acted within the rules of engagement. âEveryone in the regiment is greatly relieved that no-one is going to be charged,â the newspaper quoted one senior SAS officer as saying.
âWhile most soldiers accept that investigations into incidents need to take place at certain times, what is completely unacceptable is the length of time it takes to either bring charges or close the investigation.â
Senior figures in the SAS were said to have been always against charges being brought as they believed they could damage morale. A number of the corporalâs colleagues reportedly threatened to quit if he was prosecuted.