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Sarah Simcock appeared in the Baha Mousa Public Inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of an Iraqi man whilst detained by British Forces in Basra in September 2003.
Sarah was Junior Counsel to a soldier team and her 14 clients comprised a varied group ranging from Private, Corporal, Sergeant and Colour Sergeant, through to Major in rank.
Baha Mousa was a 26-year-old hotel receptionist, whose wife had recently died of cancer, aged 22. He was arrested, along with nine other Iraqis, at the Haitham Hotel in Basra on 14 September 2003 by members of the 1st Battalion The Queen's Lancashire Regiment (QLR).
Rifles, bayonets and suspected bomb-making equipment were found at the scene. Mr Mousa was held at a temporary detention centre with the other civilians, under suspicion of being an insurgent.
Sir William Gage published his public inquiry report into the death of Baha Mousa.
Publishing his 1,366 page final report, Sir William said a "large number" of soldiers assaulted Mr Mousa and the other detainees, and he added that many others - including several officers - must have known what was happening. The report makes 73 recommendations for improving the handling of detainees by the armed forces.
For news reporting see:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14825889
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14698722
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/sep/08/baha-mousa-death-sir-william-gage?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/8751237/Baha-Mousa-inquiry-MoDs-guilt-for-death-of-Armys-Iraqi-prisoner.html
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