A fresh start was made in the court martial of seven Colchester-based paratroopers charged with murdering teenager Nadhem Abdullah and violent disorder in Iraq.

The hearing started last Monday but a member of the court martial panel recognised a defendant and was discharged.

The panel was reconvened with a substitute member and the case restarted yesterday.

The seven men all answered "not guilty sir" as the two charges were put to them again.

Martin Heslop QC said the seven soldiers were on patrol. He said four men in a Toyota pick-up truck were beaten with rifles, helmets, feet and fists and Mr Abdullah died later that day. He had been struck on the back of the head with a rifle butt.

"This was not a case of soldiers responding while under attack," Mr Heslop said. "This was, I'm sorry to say, nothing more than gratuitous violence meted out to innocent and unarmed Iraqi civilians."

Blood matching Mr Abdullah's DNA was found on May's rifle butt. Footprints on the victim's clothing and the Toyota matched boots worn by the soldiers.

The court martial heard all seven soldiers were interviewed twice by investigators.

Vosloo and Di-Gregorio gave prepared statements. Vosloo said a vehicle had been stopped and two people searched, but denied any violence. Di-Gregorio said four people had been "put on the floor" and admitted giving one "a dig in the back".

Mr Heslop said: "The Crown says these soldiers acted as a team, each playing a knowing part in what happened and all are therefore responsible."

The case continues.

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Published Tuesday, September 13, 2005

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