|
|
| By Israel Insider staff August 5, 2007 |
|
| |
 Bookmark to del.icio.us |
| |
Upon discovering new evidence, Britain has again insisted that Israel try an IDF captain accused of shooting and killing British filmmaker James Miller in the Gaza Strip four years ago.
The new findings-- a result of the Scotland Yard inquiry into the cameraman's death -- indicate that Miller was killed by an IDF armed personnel carrier, and not from the Palestinian side, as Israeli officials had suggested. UK officials have given Israel until Tuesday to answer their demand that Capt. Hib al-Heib stand trial for Miller's murder, the Jerusalem Post reported.
According to speculation, the UK may demand al-Heib's extradition to try him in England, or try him in absentia.
Miller was killed in May 2003 while making a documentary about children in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. His colleague, Saira Shah, included the story of his death into the film "Death in Gaza", which won a series of awards.
Following an lengthy investigation, Israel decided in March 2005 that there was not sufficient evidence to press criminal charges against those involved. Al-Heib, who allegedly shot and killed Miller, was acquitted following disciplinary proceedings for illegal use of firearms.
British Attorney General Lord Peter Goldsmith said in a letter, which Haaretz received, that the ballistic tests carried out in Israel "could only show that the bullet that killed James [Miller] did not come from the rifle barrels of the weapons that were examined." The senior British official is charging Israeli authorities with tampering with evidence, saying there was "a significant opportunity for the rifle barrels to have been changed."
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and his then-prime minister Tony Blair discussed requests to bring to trial those suspected to be responsible and to compensate Miller's family. He is survived by a wife and two children.
Israel has not yet responded to the UK general attorney's most recent demands.
|
|
 
|
|
|
|
Click on the blue headline to read a Talkback comment and respond to it. Click on the  icon to send a private email to the talkback writer. The icon appears only if the writer has decided to be contacted. If no popup window appears, please make sure your popup blocker allows israelinsider.com.
|
|
| |
|
|
