Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Media: AFP
Byline: n/a
Date: 25 August 2006
LONDON - British Private Jason Chelsea committed suicide after he was
allegedly told by his commanders that he could be ordered to fire on child
suicide bombers in an upcoming tour of duty in Iraq, newspapers reported on
Friday.
His mother said Thursday that before dying, the 19-year-old told her: "I
can't go out there and shoot at young children. I just can't go to Iraq. I
don't care what side they are on. I can't do it," The Independent reported.
The Times quoted army sources as saying, however, that there was no evidence
that Iraqi insurgents used young children as suicide bombers and that
pre-deployment training did not include any such warnings.
At home on leave, Chelsea, who had previously served in Germany and Cyprus,
took 60 painkillers and then slashed his wrists on the night of August 10.
He died on August 14 from irreparable damage done to his liver, and would
not have survived a transplant, doctors told his parents.
Chelsea had previously attempted to commit suicide in 2004, when he cut his
wrists in his barracks.
"The army is greatly saddened by the death of Kingsman (Private) Chelsea," a
spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defence told AFP.
"The thoughts and sympathies of all its soldiers are with his family and
friends at this very difficult time."
"There are going to be investigations into this incident ... and until they
are complete, we can't comment any further."
Byline: n/a
Date: 25 August 2006
LONDON - British Private Jason Chelsea committed suicide after he was
allegedly told by his commanders that he could be ordered to fire on child
suicide bombers in an upcoming tour of duty in Iraq, newspapers reported on
Friday.
His mother said Thursday that before dying, the 19-year-old told her: "I
can't go out there and shoot at young children. I just can't go to Iraq. I
don't care what side they are on. I can't do it," The Independent reported.
The Times quoted army sources as saying, however, that there was no evidence
that Iraqi insurgents used young children as suicide bombers and that
pre-deployment training did not include any such warnings.
At home on leave, Chelsea, who had previously served in Germany and Cyprus,
took 60 painkillers and then slashed his wrists on the night of August 10.
He died on August 14 from irreparable damage done to his liver, and would
not have survived a transplant, doctors told his parents.
Chelsea had previously attempted to commit suicide in 2004, when he cut his
wrists in his barracks.
"The army is greatly saddened by the death of Kingsman (Private) Chelsea," a
spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defence told AFP.
"The thoughts and sympathies of all its soldiers are with his family and
friends at this very difficult time."
"There are going to be investigations into this incident ... and until they
are complete, we can't comment any further."