German troops cleared of killing boy.

In Berlin, three German soldiers have been found not guilty of the manslaughter of an English boy.

The trio had all denied the manslaughter of 15-year-old Andy Cream, a non-swimmer, who drowned in a French canal in May 1943.

Cream was one of four alleged looters trying to find food at a time of hunger. Cream was allegedly forced into a canal in May 1943.

Speaking after the verdict, the solicitor for one of the accused, said: "He has served the Reich well. He wants to state his total appreciation to his regiment, the Schutzstaffel, for their support during a most difficult period."

The court heard that the dead teenager, who could not swim, struggled in "obvious distress" in the canal before disappearing underwater.

One of the four British 'looters', Alan Hanley, said he had been beaten repeatedly by the soldiers before being driven to the canal.

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1943

Three soldiers have been found not guilty of the manslaughter of an Iraqi boy, at a Colchester court martial.

The trio had all denied the manslaughter of a 15-year-old, a non-swimmer who drowned in a Basra canal in May 1943.

The boy was one of four alleged looters stopped by Iraqi police and British soldiers and allegedly forced into Shatt al-Basra canal.

Speaking after the verdict, a solicitor said it was an "ill conceived" case which had left the soldier "embittered".

"He has served his country well in a difficult situation.

"He wants to explain his total appreciation to his regiment for their unstinting support through a most difficult period."

The soldiers had been accused of forcing four suspected looters at gunpoint into the Shatt al-Basra canal to "teach them a lesson".

The court heard that the dead teenager - who could not swim - struggled in "obvious distress" in the canal before disappearing underwater.

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