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UK MoD accused of playing `Russian roulette` over Kelly

IRNA

London, Sept 16, IRNA -- The British Ministry of Defense (MoD) was 
accused by David Kelly`s family Tuesday of playing a `game of Russian 
roulette` in releasing the identity of the late Iraq arms inspector. 
The decision to confirm Kelly as a suspected government `mole` to 
journalists who came forward with his name was `cynical and 
irresponsible`, said his family`s barrister Jeremy Gompertz. 
Gompertz was questioning the deputy chief of Defense Intelligence 
Martin Howard in the first session in which lawyers have been 
permitted to cross-examine witnesses in the ongoing inquiry into the 
circumstances of Kelly`s death. 
Howard, giving evidence for the third time, insisted that the 
MoD`s approach was `absolutely not` a ploy to ensure that the former 
Iraq arms inspector was identified as the probable source of BBC 
reports alleging the Government exaggerated Iraq`s arms threat. 
But Kelly`s barrister challenged whether the procedure adopted to 
release his name `amounted to a parlor game for journalists?` When 
this was rejected, he asked was `it more like a game of Russian 
roulette?` 
"I suggest to you that the strategy that was adopted with regard 
to Dr Kelly`s name was both cynical and irresponsible," he told 
Howard. 
Giving evidence to the inquiry headed by Lord Hutton earlier 
Tuesday, Home Office forensic pathologist Nicholas Hunt suggested 
that the death of the former weapons inspector, who worked as an MoD 
advisor, was self-inflicted. 
A post-mortem examination found a series of incised wounds and 
cuts on the left arm and wrist, the largest of which was near the 
elbow. A toxicological report also showed evidence of two drugs that 
make up Co-proxamol were in his blood. 
Hunt said there were three minor abrasions to the side of Kelly`s 
head and a series of skin bruises around his knees and chest, but no 
signs of defensive injuries that would have occurred if someone tried 
to `parry blows from a weapon or trying to grab a weapon`. 
When asked if someone else could have been involved, he said there
was `no pathological evidence to indicate the involvement of a third 
party in Dr Kelly`s death`. 
Kelly`s body was found just over a week after he was revealed as a
suspected government mole. The pathologist gave a wide estimate on the
time of death as between 4.15 p.m. on July 17, an hour after he 
disappeared from his home, and 1.15 a.m. on July 18. 
The inquiry, in its 18th day, is taking oral evidence for the next
two weeks, when further witnesses are being recalled for cross- 
examination. 
Hutton, a senior law lords, is to spend the following month or so 
in writing up his report, which he hopes to be able to publish by 
November. 
HC/AH/210 
End