The Hindu : International : Israeli army "lied" about civilian death

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 25, 2005

International

International

Israeli army "lied" about civilian death

Mark Townsend

LONDON: Israeli soldiers stand accused this weekend of "lying" and tampering with evidence in an attempt to obstruct an inquiry by military prosecutors into the death of British film-maker James Miller, according to internal army documents.

A 79-page report by the chief lawyer of the Israeli army's southern command into the shooting of Miller in the Gaza Strip details how soldiers questioned over the killing changed earlier testimonies. The version of events offered by the soldier originally implicated in the shooting, identified only as Second Lieutenant H, were so contradictory that his accounts were described in the report as coming "full circle".

"Evidence shows that Second Lieutenant H heard his soldiers lying in their testimonies during the investigation, and unfortunately did not mention that fact to his commanders, that his soldiers are giving them details that are not true," the report says.

In addition, the report alleges the barrel of the rifle understood to have been used in the shooting two years ago was changed. Rifles submitted as part of the investigation could not have been those used in the shooting because it was "impossible" that bullets found at the scene in Rafah belonged to the weapons surrendered, adds the report.

"It is important to point out that during the investigation a concern was raised, based on intelligence information, that some of the soldiers later changed the barrel they used during the event with a different barrel," it continues.

Disappearance of tapes

Concern over a possible cover-up is underlined by the disappearance of videotapes that would have been recorded by the army's observation system and may have filmed Miller's death. Despite several attempts to locate them, the tapes from 3 May 2003 have never been found.

- Guardian Newspapers Limited 2005

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International

News Update

Stories in this Section

BBC "planted'' hecklers in poll campaign

Israeli army "lied" about civilian death

Sir John Mills is dead

Virus coming under control: U.N.

India denies deployment of additional troops

Syria completes Lebanon pullout

Pakistan Rangers, BSF sign agreement

Leaders resolve to pool resources, creative energies

NRI-made film in Houston festival