Kicking charge against British soldier dropped
Another British soldier accused of abusing Iraqi prisoners has had a charge against him dropped.
On the order of the presiding judge, a court martial in Germany cleared lance corporal Mark Cooley, 25, of pretending to kick a prisoner held at a British aid camp.
The soldier, from Newcastle, still faces two other charges, including posing for a photograph while pretending to punch a prisoner. He denies them both.
Last week, L/Cpl Darren Larkin, from Oldham, Greater Manchester, was cleared of forcing two captured Iraqi looters to undress.
The 30-year-old had already admitted assaulting a prisoner at Camp Bread Basket, near Basra, in May 2003.
A charge of aiding and abetting L/Cpl Larkin was also dropped against Cpl Daniel Kenyon, of Newcastle. He still faces five other charges.
The charges against the three soldiers, from the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, came about after photographs depicting the alleged abuse were developed at a shop in Staffordshire.
