View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

‘Significant step’ towards justice for James Miller

By Press Gazette

The information sought by the Israeli authorities relates to analysis conducted on behalf of the Metropolitan Police using film footage from the scene of Miller’s death.

In April 2006, a London jury at St Pancras Coroners Court returned a verdict of unlawful killing and said that Miller, 34, had been murdered.

The coroner wrote to then attorney general Lord Goldsmith inviting him to ‘consider starting criminal proceedings in the UK against members of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) for an offence of willful killing”.

Giving evidence at Miller’s inquest in London, former weapons inspector Chris Cobb-Smith said there was no way the Israeli soldier who killed the cameraman did so by accident.

‘This was calculated and cold-blooded murder, without a shadow of a doubt,’he said. ‘These shots were not fired by a soldier who was frightened, not fired by a soldier facing incoming fire – these were slow, deliberate, calculated and aimed shots.”

The 10-member inquest jury heard how Miller had been wearing a helmet and flak jacket with the letters ‘TV’written in bright fluorescent tape as he approached the soldiers at around 11pm on 2 May 2003.

He was holding a torch which shone on a large white flag being held by his interpreter.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

A shot was fired, followed by a second fatal shot 12 to 13 seconds later, the inquest heard.

In response to Tuesday’s news, James Miller’s family said: ‘We are very pleased that General Mazuz has replied within the time limit set out in Lord Goldsmith’s letter.

‘This information has for the most part been in the possession of the Israeli investigators for more than four years.

‘We will look on with interest to see whether Israel will seek to undermine the expertise of the Metropolitan Police’s acoustic examination, or perhaps this will be the first significant step towards Israel pursuing justice.”

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network