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Soldier faces abuse charges
Jan 10 2005
By Jim Guthrie
A MIDLAND soldier was facing a court martial today over the alleged abuse of Iraqi prisoners.
Fusilier Gary Bartlam, aged 19, from the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, is accused of the ill treatment of Iraqis in May 2003.
The alleged abuse came to light after staff in a Tamworth photo shop tipped off police about a film taken in for processing.
Bartlam's parents, Paul and Margaret Bartlam, run a corner shop in the nearby village of Dordon.
Kelly Tilford, then 22, was checking a film for processing in a Max Spielmann shop when she discovered photos allegedly showing an Iraqi gagged and bound, hanging in netting from a fork-lift truck driven by a British soldier. Other pictures depicted soldiers involved in alleged abuse.
Bartlam took the film into the shop while on leave at home after serving in Iraq. He was arrested when he returned to collect the photos.
Evidence about alleged assaults and indecent assaults of the Iraqis will be heard at a court martial taking place at a British Army base in Hohne, in Germany, today.
Three other soldiers from the regiment, Corporal Daniel Kenyon and Lance Corporals Mark Cooley and Darren Larkin, are also expected to face a further court martial in Osnabruck, in Germany, in connection with the abuse allegations later this week.
All the charges relate to incidents which took place at a food storage warehouse near Basra where Iraqi civilians were being temporarily detained. Attorney General Lord Goldsmith announced last year that the soldiers would face a public court martial over the alleged abuse.
The first court martial is expected to conclude on Tuesday lunchtime. The second case will start at a Military Court Centre in Osnabruck on Wednesday.
