Israeli soldier faces Yard probe over Briton’s death

[Englander]

The attorney-general, Lord Goldsmith, has ordered the Metropolitan police to investigate the death of a British filmmaker killed by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip.

The inquiry, jointly with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), could lead to the extradition and trial in Britain of an Israeli army officer who shot James Miller, a 34-year-old award winning documentary film-maker.

Goldsmith’s intervention comes six weeks after he flew to Tel Aviv to discuss the case with his Israeli counterpart and other officials.

Miller, 34, who was married with two children, was shot dead by an Israeli soldier in the Gaza Strip on May 2, 2003, while making a film about children caught in the crossfire of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Yesterday, Miller’s widow, Sophie, who had not previously heard of the British investigation, said: “We welcome it as there has been no justice so far. The Israeli military investigation had significant failings. It was disappointing that they decided not to do anything.”

More at;
SundayTimes

[Violet_Crumble]

1. Can the UK extradite the officer?

That would take cooperation from Israel itself, though if the UK were to push the point, I suspect there would be cooperation...

I read the bit about James Hurndall's killer only being convicted of manslaughter. After reading more about what happened to him I think that's a bit of a travesty of justice....

[Englander]

3. They could, & they should.

Both the murders of James Miller & Tom Hurndall were violations of the Geneva Conventions, since
they were clearly identifiable as civilians, & they were killed by the armed forces of a signatory
of the conventions, so it is possible that the soldiers could be extradited. Goldsmith's looking at
the possibility of prosecutions in this country. Of course, if the Israeli authorities responsible
for the unlawful killing of innocent civilians were to prosecute those soldiers, none of this would
be necessary.

[cantstandbush]

2. Worry about the atrocious killing of one Brit but do not care about

the mass murder of Palestinians? That's what is do deplorable about the double standard used against the Palestinians.

[Englander]

4. Scotland Yard looks into cameraman's murder

Police are to investigate the killing of James Miller, the British cameraman shot dead by Israeli soldiers in Gaza three years ago.

The Metropolitan Police and the Crown Prosecution Service's decision to investigate the death follows meetings between the attorney general, Lord Goldsmith, and Israeli officials.

The CPS told the Sunday Times that Scotland Yard had assigned detectives to the case.

At an inquest earlier this year in London a jury decided the shooting was unlawful and that the 34-year-old father of two had been murdered.

Miller was shot by an Israeli soldier as he filmed in the Gaza strip in May 2003.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,,1817069,00.html