Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Thomas of Gresford (Liberal Democrat). It was answered on Wednesday, 19 July 2006.

Israel: Tom Hurndall and James Miller

Question: My Lords, the coroner, Dr Reid, recommended a prosecution under Section 1(1) of the Geneva Conventions Act 1957, following the verdicts of the British jury of unlawful killing in respect of both men. Will the noble and learned Lord confirm that that is an extraditable offence, with extraterritorial jurisdiction that the courts of this country have full power to deal with? Does he agree that the verdicts of the British juries, who heard all the evidence at that stage, are a firm foundation to issue a warrant already in this country regardless of any further investigations in Israel and for a request to be made by the Home Office for extradition to this country?

Answer: My Lords, I do not entirely agree with the noble Lord. The coroner’s jury did not in fact hear all the evidence—that is part of the criticism of what took place—because it did not have available the information and evidence that had been gathered in Israel. The coroner was concerned that, as he saw it, he had not received co-operation. I hope that that will be remedied in the case of what I am looking at. We are not at the stage where it would be right to look for warrants. It is important to continue the investigation; that is what I am determined to do to reach a proper conclusion. Certainly, in theory, there are offences that would be extraditable.

Secondary information