UK inquest could scrutinise Aussie aid worker’s death
A British inquest into the deaths of aid workers in the Gaza Strip could have an impact on the family of an Australian woman killed.
An inquest into the deaths of three British aid workers killed by an Israeli drone strike in the Gaza Strip could be expanded to involve the family of the Australian colleague who died alongside them.
Seven World Central Kitchen workers were killed when a three-car convoy was hit on April 1, 2024.
An inquest in the UK will investigate the deaths of British citizens James Kirby, 47, John Chapman, 57 and James Henderson.
Australian Lalzawmi “Zomi” Frankcom, 43, also died, with dual American-Canadian citizen Jacob Flickinger, 33, Polish national Damian Sobol, 35; and their driver, Palestinian Saifeddin Issam Ayad Abutaha, 25.
The scope of inquests into the deaths of three British is set to be expanded to include the Israel Defence Forces and the commander who allegedly ordered the attack.
During a pre-inquest hearing at Avon Coroner’s Court on Monday, senior coroner Maria Voisin considered the scope of the full inquest and submissions by legal teams.
Alison Hewitt, counsel to the inquest, said submissions had been made to grant interested person status – giving the right to participation during the proceedings – to the IDF and Colonel Nochi Mendel.
“It is right to say that as part of the background facts, there has been a recognition that the deaths resulted from strikes ordered by or on behalf of Israeli Defence Forces and, it is said, specifically by Colonel Mendel,” Hewitt said.
Hewitt asked Voisin if it was correct that she was “minded to grant” interested person status to the IDF and Colonel Mendel, with the coroner replying “yes”.
Voisin also said she was likely to grant the status to the family of Frankcom and would confirm her position in writing in the near future.
Granting interested person status gives an individual or organisation formal recognition and legal rights to participate in a coroner’s investigation and hearing, meaning they can take part, see the evidence, give their own account and be represented by a lawyer.
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Hewitt said the scope inquest would include the circumstances by which the British workers came to be in Gaza, and what risk assessments, plans, policies and procedures were in place.
Legal teams have proposed that be extended to cover the steps taken by the IDF and Israeli Ministry of Defence to protect the lives of humanitarian aid workers in Gaza.
It should also consider how the IDF and World Community Kitchen worked together, and what information the IDF received prior to the strikes about the WCK’s operations on April 1.
An interview by ABC News with Colonel Mendel, including unedited recordings or transcripts, could also be requested.
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