Ex-soldier's parents plea for help

The parents of a Middleton man who is facing the death penalty in Iraq for the killing of two colleagues have said that the horrific experiences on active service had destabilised his behaviour.

Former British soldier Daniel Fitzsimons, 29, shot dead two fellow security guards while working for the private ArmorGroup in Baghdad's Green Zone last August. He maintains there had been a series of drunken fights and provocations.

If found guilty of murdering Paul McGuigan, 37, of Peebles, Scotland, and Darren Hoare, 37, from Australia, the former Royal Fusilier could be executed.

His stepmother Liz and father Eric met officials from the Ministry of Justice and the Foreign Office in London yesterday (Friday 19 March 2010) to press the British government to become more involved in the case.

The couple are hoping their lawyers will be able to persuade the families of the dead men to ask the Iraqi court for clemency.

The next hearing is on 7 April.