Andrew Walker (barrister)
Encyclopedia
Andrew Walker is an English
barrister
and coroner
for Northern District of Greater London,. In June 2006 he was appointed on temporary contract as assistant deputy coroner in Oxfordshire, one of three temporary appointees to assist in reducing a backlog of inquest
s into the deaths of British military
personnel overseas.
Bodies of those servicemen dying overseas are repatriated to the UK via RAF Brize Norton
leading to the responsibility for inquests being under the civilian jurisdiction of the Oxfordshire
coroner
.
Statements made by Walker in a number of high profile cases have been quoted in the British media. He has sought to summon several high profile witnesses, including Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon
, and has been critical of the policy of the position of the government of the United States is that US servicemen do not attend non-US courts, written statements being normally provided.
He has been particularly critical of the actions of the UK Ministry of Defence and United States Department of Defense
, particularly with regard to so-called friendly fire
incidents.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
barrister
Barristers in England and Wales
Barristers in England and Wales are one of the two main categories of lawyer in England and Wales, the other being solicitors. -Origin of the profession:The work of senior legal professionals in England and Wales...
and coroner
Coroner
A coroner is a government official who* Investigates human deaths* Determines cause of death* Issues death certificates* Maintains death records* Responds to deaths in mass disasters* Identifies unknown dead* Other functions depending on local laws...
for Northern District of Greater London,. In June 2006 he was appointed on temporary contract as assistant deputy coroner in Oxfordshire, one of three temporary appointees to assist in reducing a backlog of inquest
Inquest
Inquests in England and Wales are held into sudden and unexplained deaths and also into the circumstances of discovery of a certain class of valuable artefacts known as "treasure trove"...
s into the deaths of British military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
personnel overseas.
Bodies of those servicemen dying overseas are repatriated to the UK via RAF Brize Norton
RAF Brize Norton
RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, about west north-west of London, is the largest station of the Royal Air Force. It is close to the settlements of Brize Norton, Carterton and Witney....
leading to the responsibility for inquests being under the civilian jurisdiction of the Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
coroner
Coroner
A coroner is a government official who* Investigates human deaths* Determines cause of death* Issues death certificates* Maintains death records* Responds to deaths in mass disasters* Identifies unknown dead* Other functions depending on local laws...
.
Statements made by Walker in a number of high profile cases have been quoted in the British media. He has sought to summon several high profile witnesses, including Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon
Geoff Hoon
Geoffrey "Geoff" William Hoon is a British politician who served as the Member of Parliament for Ashfield from 1992 to 2010...
, and has been critical of the policy of the position of the government of the United States is that US servicemen do not attend non-US courts, written statements being normally provided.
He has been particularly critical of the actions of the UK Ministry of Defence and United States Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
, particularly with regard to so-called friendly fire
Friendly fire
Friendly fire is inadvertent firing towards one's own or otherwise friendly forces while attempting to engage enemy forces, particularly where this results in injury or death. A death resulting from a negligent discharge is not considered friendly fire...
incidents.
- In the case of the death of ITN reporter Terry LloydTerry LloydTerence Ellis Lloyd was a British television journalist well-known for his reporting from the Middle East. He was killed by U.S. troops while covering the 2003 invasion of Iraq for ITN...
, killed by U.S. forces in southern Iraq in March 2003, Walker recorded a verdict of Unlawful Killing, the strongest possible judgement in an inquest, calling for the Attorney generalAttorney GeneralIn most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
and Director of Public ProsecutionsDirector of Public ProsecutionsThe Director of Public Prosecutions is the officer charged with the prosecution of criminal offences in several criminal jurisdictions around the world...
to consider criminal charges against the U.S. servicemen involved.
- The inquest into the death of British NCONon-commissioned officerA non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
, L/CoHLance-Corporal of HorseLance-corporal of horse is an appointment unique to the Household Cavalry of the British Army, equivalent to lance sergeant in the Foot Guards. It was introduced in 1971...
Matty Hull, in an incident in 2003 led significant media interest over the refusal of the US government to release a SECRET cockpit video recording. The video was leaked to the British media. Walker returned a narrative verdict, stating that the killing of Hull was "unlawfulUnlawful killingIn English law unlawful killing is a verdict that can be returned by an inquest in England and Wales when someone has been killed by one or several unknown persons. The verdict means that the killing was done without lawful excuse and in breach of criminal law. This includes murder, manslaughter,...
". He said: "The attack on the convoy amounted to an assault. It was unlawful because there was no lawful reason for it and in that respect it was criminal."
- In the case of the crash of an RAF Nimrod in Afghanistan in 2006, in which 14 servicemen were killed, Walker stated that the evidence heard at the inquest revealed that the entire Nimrod fleet had "never been airworthy from the first time it was released to service".