Feuer Frei!
08-06-11, 05:32 AM
A ROYAL Marine was killed by a 14-year-old Afghan boy who was offered $80 to set off the explosive device, a UK inquest was told today. Corporal Stephen Curley, 26, was killed when a roadside bomb detonated in the Sangin district of Helmand province in May last year.
A few days later the boy, Aga Wali, confessed to carrying out an IED attack at the same time and place where Corporal Curley was killed. Wali had been handed over to the local police by his father who feared that he was set to become a Taliban fighter.
The inquest in Exeter, south-west England, was told that Wali had been sentenced to imprisonment by Afghan authorities but it is not known how long he will serve or whether he is still detained, [I]The (London) Times reported.
Corporal Curley's widow, Kirianne, 28, who is caring for their 17-month-old son William on her own, learned of the boy's role only a few hours before the start of the inquest when she was shown statements from two Royal Marines officers.
Lieutenant-Colonel Paul James, who was in charge of operations with 40 Commando at the time of the incident, said he had been informed of the boy's confession.
He said, "I received a report from the Afghan national police that a 14-year-old boy had been handed in by his father for being the trigger man in an IED attack. The boy admitted firing the device which killed a Royal Marine in southern Sangin on a date which corresponded to the explosion."
He added that the father was concerned his son was embarking upon a life as a fighter with the Taliban and feared for his life.
"He said Aga Wali had been told he would be paid $80 by the Taliban but when he went for payment they said aggressively he should be fighting for ideological reasons and not financial gain," James said.
The inquest was adjourned so that further evidence could be obtained.
August 06, 2011 3:45PM
SOURCE (http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/afghan-boy-was-offered-80-to-set-off-bomb-that-killed-royal-marine-uk-inquest-hears/story-e6frfku0-1226109764459)
A few days later the boy, Aga Wali, confessed to carrying out an IED attack at the same time and place where Corporal Curley was killed. Wali had been handed over to the local police by his father who feared that he was set to become a Taliban fighter.
The inquest in Exeter, south-west England, was told that Wali had been sentenced to imprisonment by Afghan authorities but it is not known how long he will serve or whether he is still detained, [I]The (London) Times reported.
Corporal Curley's widow, Kirianne, 28, who is caring for their 17-month-old son William on her own, learned of the boy's role only a few hours before the start of the inquest when she was shown statements from two Royal Marines officers.
Lieutenant-Colonel Paul James, who was in charge of operations with 40 Commando at the time of the incident, said he had been informed of the boy's confession.
He said, "I received a report from the Afghan national police that a 14-year-old boy had been handed in by his father for being the trigger man in an IED attack. The boy admitted firing the device which killed a Royal Marine in southern Sangin on a date which corresponded to the explosion."
He added that the father was concerned his son was embarking upon a life as a fighter with the Taliban and feared for his life.
"He said Aga Wali had been told he would be paid $80 by the Taliban but when he went for payment they said aggressively he should be fighting for ideological reasons and not financial gain," James said.
The inquest was adjourned so that further evidence could be obtained.
August 06, 2011 3:45PM
SOURCE (http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/afghan-boy-was-offered-80-to-set-off-bomb-that-killed-royal-marine-uk-inquest-hears/story-e6frfku0-1226109764459)