This doesn’t help relations between my two countries:

Speaking at a State Department briefing in Washington, [spokesman] Mr McCormack said: “Clearly we don’t agree with the assessment. What we have here is a tragedy that occurred during a time of war.

“We have conducted an investigation into the matter – our military has – they have come to their own conclusions.

“We certainly would not agree with any conclusion that categorised this as a criminal act.”

Recording a narrative verdict, Oxford assistant deputy coroner Andrew Walker said L/Cpl Hull’s death was “entirely avoidable”.

“It was unlawful because there was no lawful reason for it and in that respect it was criminal,” he said.

I’ve no interest in throwing anyone to the lions just because politics demands it, but just listening to the cockpit recording that was leaked makes it clear that someone screwed up. That doesn’t mean that someone has to hang, but it does mean something has to change.