First Australian soldier dies in Iraq.

[Putnum]

Hey everyone, first post w00t.

Was just reading through here and clicking on the links to official news articles regarding the issue really. I'm doing a 1000 word essay on it for one of my uni subjects.

In my opinion, it was suicide. Yes I still think it's a tragedy, of course suicide is always a tragedy. The media has turned the incident into a major event in news and fair enough too, but I wish they would stop changing their minds and opinions on how he died. That's the last thing the family really wants to hear. It's bad enough that his body got mixed up.

For those that are unfamiliar with military history, the standard comment released by platoons if a soldier takes his own life is that he was cleaning his gun. It should have just been left there. Nobody NEEDS to know the precise way that he died, nobody needs 3D recreations of the event where an Australian soldier lost his life. The family would have closure if the original "while cleaning his gun" comment wasn't questioned, and the story would be over.

Shame things don't work that way in todays media.

 

[redAPPLE]

one too many. how sad. god bless his soul.

 

[kretzy]

In my opinion, it was suicide.

I tend to agree. Though the suggestion of this by a detective made his mother storm out of the enquiry today. She is adamant that he did not commit suicide, and that it could not have been an accident on his part because he was such an expert on guns.

Apparently there has been some unidentified DNA found on the weapon as well, so who knows where that might lead.

I am really intrigued as to what the truth behind all of this is. Hopefully it will all come out eventually.

Welcome to MR btw.

 

[dogbone]

Lastest report. No gunshot residue on Kovco's hands

However, the military inquiry into Pte Kovco's death today heard that while the tests indicated that he was shot at close range, they did not reveal if the Victorian soldier shot himself or not.

link

This can only mean that Kovco was murdered.

Yet the enquiry refuses to come to this conclusion. If he didn't pull the trigger then how can it be other than murder?

Also is it not strange that it's not until 4 months later that we are informed that there was no gunshot residue on Kovco's hands?

 

[kretzy]

Sounds like a big cover up by a few mates that were probably mucking around with weaponry and had a bit of an accident.