BRIT SOLDIERS' TORTURE TRIAL: 'SNAPS OF SHAME' Three servicemen in the dock for 'abuse' of Iraqi captives.

Byline: ALEXANDRA WILLIAMS in Osnabruck, Germany

TWENTY-two photos of British soldiers apparently abusing Iraqi captives were shown to an Army court yesterday.

The images depicted prisoners being stood on, suspended bound in netting from a forklift truck, cowering in fear from pretend attacks and simulating sex acts.

They were released as Corporal Daniel Kenyon and Lance Corporals Mark Cooley and Darren Larkin, from the 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, faced nine charges that could lead to imprisonment and dismissal from the Army.

Prosecutor Lieutenant Colonel Nick Clapham told the court martial at an Army base in Osnabruck, Germany: "It cannot be said that these photos depict images anything other than shocking and appalling."

Some of the pictures were taken by Fusilier Gary Bartlam, 19, who took them to a shop in Tamworth, Staffs, to be developed. Shop staff alerted police to the contents. Bartlam was convicted of taking photos at an earlier hearing.

Yesterday the men spoke only to confirm their names and ranks and to enter their pleas.

Kenyon, 33 - whose conduct was described as "cruel and disgraceful" - denies six charges, including aiding and abetting a person to force two naked men to simulate a sex act.

Cooley, 25, of Newcastle upon Tyne, denies three charges including simulating punching and kicking a captive. Larkin, 30, of Oldham, Greater Manchester, denies one charge of forcing prisoners to strip. He admits an assault.

In one shot an Iraqi is bound in netting with hands tied and suspended from the arms of a forklift truck driven by Cooley.

Moments later the Iraqi is cut down and falls to the ground. Cooley accepts he was the driver but will claim he was moving the prisoner out of the sun.

Another photo apparently shows Larkin dressed in black underpants and sandals, standing on a man and holding a pole.

The Iraqi is covered in dirt, has no shoes and is lying on his side with netting over his head and torso.

In the background, the court martial heard, Kenyon can be seen taking photos. By doing so, it is claimed, he gave "active encouragement" to the alleged brutality.

Other snaps show Cooley pretending to aim a kick at the head of one Iraqi on the ground and also pretending to throw a punch. Graphic pictures depict what appear to be simulated sex acts by captives.

One shows a naked Iraqi kneeling on all fours. An Iraqi is behind him. In the same incident the prisoners are shown posing with their thumbs up. A shot of two naked Iraqis appears to show simulated oral sex.

Lt Col Clapham said: "Larkin is the principal offender. He was instrumental in forcing Iraqis to undress. Kenyon was present and had the ability to intervene, but did not."

Larkin's defence William England said of his admitted assault: "He's ashamed of his unacceptable act. He knows he has brought shame on his regiment, himself and his family."

It is claimed the offences took place in a warehouse used to store aid at a compound near Basra, south Iraq, known as Bread Basket Camp.

Theft was such a problem area commander Major Dan Taylor devised Operation Ali Baba to "dissuade" looters.

He ordered that suspects taken into custody should be "worked hard" - an order the prosecution admits was a breach of the Geneva Convention. A section run by Kenyon was given three or four Iraqis to detain and work.

A short time later the scenes in the photos occurred, it is claimed.

The prosecutor said that despite the order being illegal, brutality was not authorised. He said: "In no way did that order envisage conduct of the type I've described."

The three accused soldiers are stationed at an Army base in Celle, northern Germany.

The hearing, expected to last up to a month, was adjourned until today.

CAPTION(S):

PRISONERS: Group of men made to stand hand on heads at camp; STICK: Soldier makes detainee carry a box on his head; BOUND: Prisoner lies on the floor tied up with netting from his head to his waist; NAKED: Captives humiliated; QUIZ: Kenyon, right, leans over a bound Iraqi prisoner; STRIPPED: Iraqi captives in simulated sex act - the prosecution says they were forced to give thumbs-up; SUSPENDED: Grimacing; prisoner tied to the raised arms of a forklift truck driven by accused Lance Corporal Cooley; "THREAT": Soldier pretends to kick captive who is lying in pool of water at compound; GUILTY; Gary Bartlam; ACCUSED; Cooley and Kenyon deny all charges against them; ADMITS ASSAULT; Larkin with girlfriend Victoria