Fed: Muslim catchcry evidence retracted, Kovco inquiry told

AAP General News (Australia)
08-14-2006
Fed: Muslim catchcry evidence retracted, Kovco inquiry told

A senior soldier who claimed he heard the Muslim expression "Allah Akbar" .. God is
Great .. moments before Private JAKE KOVCO was shot .. has retracted the statement.

An inquiry into the death of the soldier has heard .. a section commander .. codenamed
soldier 21 .. made the claim to an assessment officer but later took it back when interviewed
by military police.

Via video link from Baghdad .. soldier 21 has told the inquiry .. it'd become unclear
whether he'd in fact heard the comment.

Other soldiers giving evidence have declared they didn't hear the expression in the
moments before the death.

Soldier 21 says he'd gone to the barracks to tell Private KOVCO and his two roommates
to turn down their loud music.

He says he was about to open the door when he heard a gunshot from their room.

When he opened the door he saw Private KOVCO lying on the floor with one of his roommates
kneeling down .. trying to stop blood gushing out of his mate's head.

Soldier 21 says for a split second he thought the soldiers were playing a joke .. but
he quickly realised the soldier had been shot.

The inquiry continues.

AAP RTV bt/was/es/cp

KEYWORD: KOVCO CATCHCRY (SYDNEY)

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