§ The Attorney-General (Lord Goldsmith)In June 2004 I advised of my superintendence over the Army Prosecuting Authority and undertook to inform the House of criminal proceedings against soldiers arising out of incidents in Iraq. I also superintend the RAF and Naval Prosecuting Authorities and am accountable to Parliament for any prosecutions decisions.
52WSIt is therefore appropriate that I advise the House that senior aircraftman James Alexander Bowskill of 2 Squadron RAF Regiment, based at Royal Air Force Station Honington, has been charged with an offence contrary to Section 1 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.
The charge reads that Bowskill drove a vehicle dangerously on a road, causing the deaths of five Iraqi civilians. The incident occurred in the vicinity of Basra, Iraq, on 3 February 2004. The court martial will take place on 4 April 2005 at the Military Court Centre in Colchester.