BBC- Soldier cleared of Gaza killing (James Miller)

[Englander]

Thursday, 14 April, 2005, 13:43 GMT 14:43 UK

An Israeli soldier accused of shooting a British cameraman dead has been cleared by a judge of any wrongdoing.

James Miller was killed in 2003 at the age of 34, as he filmed a documentary in the Rafah refugee camp.

Israel had already said the soldier - known only as Lt H - would not be prosecuted over the death.

On Thursday a military judge also dismissed disciplinary proceedings, acquitting the soldier of "misusing his firearm", a military official said.

>snip

Mr Miller's sister Anne said the family would seek a judicial review of the decision not to prosecute and issue a civil action for wrongful killing.

More at;
BBC News

[number6]

1. open season on cameramen ....

:(

[Violet_Crumble]

2. I don't know why anyone would be outraged....

Given the track record of these type of investigations, this was always going to be the end result. Unless the life's an Israeli one, life's apparently real cheap to some...

Violet...

[Englander]

3. Aye,even when the killing is caught on film.....

there are eye-witnesses,evidence from a pathologist,
ballsitics experts,&tc,&tc.

This was not a Palestinian,or a naive non-Israeli student,
or a radical activist that can be killed & forgotten about;
James Miller was a professional film maker who had worked in
Chechnya,Kosovo,Sierra Leone,El Salvador,Afghanistan,
amongst other places.He'd won three Emmys,& a Bafta.
His family & friends are not going to stop until the killer
(possibly the commander of the unit)is on trial for this
killing.

[Jdemsindiana]

4. This is clearly classic crap

"Israelis only help themselves" those selfish Israelis when was the
last time a red Cresent ambulence came by to help Terrorism victims in Jerusalem

[drdon326]

5. Thats easy..........

NEVER.

[Englander]

6. And what do you think should happen to the IDF officer...

who killed the British film maker?

[Englander]

7. Ponder this;

Has a IDF soldier ever been prosecuted for the
unlawful killing of a civilian?

[Jdemsindiana]

8. Yes

it has happened they have rules of engagement

[Englander]

9. When? n/t

[Scurrilous]

10. Army reviews acquittal of officer who killed U.K. journalist

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/568055.html

<snip>

"Chief Military Prosecutor Brigadier General Avihai Mandelblit on Thursday appealed against the acquittal of an Israel Defense Forces officer who had opened fire during an incident in which a British photojournalist was killed in the Gaza Strip almost two years ago.

The photographer, James Miller, was shot dead during a night-time incident in Rafah in southern Gaza in May 2003 while he was filming a movie on the lives of Palestinian children during the intifada.

The officer who was commanding the unit, a first lieutenant in the Bedouin Desert Reconnaissance Battalion, was acquitted by the IDF Southern Command Chief of Staff Brigadier General Guy Tzur."

<snip>

"Mandelblit had recently decided to refrain from trying the officer on criminal charges due to a lack of evidence directly tying him to the death of Miller. It was instead decided to try the officer in a disciplinary hearing for illegal use of his weapon. He was charged with violating fire opening regulations when he shot at a group of civilians who posed no danger to him."