Iraqi jailed over killing of aid worker Hassan

Published on 06/06/2006 01:11

AN IRAQI man was jailed for life yesterday in connection with the kidnapping and murder of the British aid worker Margaret Hassan.

Mustafa Mohammed Salman al-Jabouri was one of three men on trial in Iraq in connection with the killing of the Care International worker. He had been charged with aiding and abetting the kidnappers.

Two others, Muhssin Ahmed, 39, and Qassim Muhammad, 33, were cleared.

Mrs Hassan, 59, was taken hostage in October 2004 and killed just under a month later. Her body has never been found.

Last night, her family issued a statement in which they said they were "devastated and appalled" at the decision of the court, reached after a brief hearing, not to convict al-Jabouri of murder. The statement said: "Mustapha Al-Jabouri was found guilty of 'joining the group who kidnapped Margaret'.

"This man was found with Margaret's personal belongings. He had used her mobile telephone up until the eve of her death, to make demands of her husband, Tahseen.

"He admitted to the Iraqi police that he had interrogated Margaret. Why was he not found guilty of murder?" it said.

"He is now entitled to appeal against this sentence and may be free within months."