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May 6, 2004updated 17 May 2007 11:30am

Miller family denied access to full report

By Press Gazette

The family of James Miller, the British journalist killed in Gaza by an Israeli soldier’s bullet on 2 May last year, have expressed their dismay following confirmation by the Israeli authorities that they will be denied full access to any report into his death.

After the year-long campaign by the family and British broadcasters for a transparent criminal investigation into Miller’s death, the family were told they will only be allowed to read the report’s conclusions, when finally completed.

It also emerged that the investigation was unable to match the bullet that killed Miller to any weapon.

Miller’s widow Sophy renewed demands for a full investigation and issued a statement to mark the anniversary of his death, following a meeting with Ranaan Gissin, adviser to Ariel Sharon, representatives of the Foreign Ministry, the Israel Defence Force (IDF) and the Judge Advocate General on 29 April.

“James’s family and I remain very concerned that there is still no firm date for the release of the report into his killing, despite assurances from the Israelis that they are undertaking a full and thorough investigation into James’s death and that the matter will be raised with Ariel Sharon,” she said in a statement following the meeting.

“The Israelis have admitted their initial investigation immediately following James’s death in May 2003 was flawed and have now said that they are unable to match the bullet that killed James to a gun,” she said.

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“Even more worrying is that we, James’s family, will be denied access to the full report, if and when it is released, and that we will be allowed to read only its conclusions.

“Almost a year to the day, James’s family deserve to know the truth about his death and to be allowed to grieve for him in the knowledge that the person responsible will be brought to justice.”

By Wale Azeez

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