Murder claim was truthful, say accused

TWO Muslim men accused of calling British soldiers murderers, racists and baby killers during a homecoming parade did not set out to offend people but were speaking the truth, they have told a court.

By The Newsroom

Published 8th Jan 2010, 20:24 BST

Updated 8th Jan 2010, 20:24 BST

Shajjadar Choudhury, 31, and Munim Abdul, 28, are two of seven defendants charged with public order offences at the parade of the 2nd Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment, known as The Poachers, in Luton on March 10 last year.

They and Jalal Ahmed, 21, Yousaf Bashir, 29, Jubair Ahmed, 19, Ziaur Rahman, 32, and Ibrahim Anderson, 32, all from Luton, deny using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress at Luton Magistrates' Court.

During the five-day trial, the court has seen video footage showing the men holding placards branding the soldiers "Butchers of Basra".

But yesterday Abdul told the court they believed they were speaking the truth, so their words could not be offensive.

Abdul told the court that when he referred to the UK soldiers as murderers, he meant it literally because they had killed people in what he saw as an illegal war.

The trial continues on Monday.

Luton