A tape recording of a British soldier being killed in Iraq by US friendly fire will not be shown in court, a coroner has reluctantly agreed.

The video of the moment two US A-10 tankbusters fired on Lance Corporal Matty Hull and other soldiers in his Household Cavalry Regiment armoured convoy has already been broadcast after it was obtained by the Sun newspaper.

The cockpit tape recording shows the moment four years ago that the convoy was hit. In it, the pilot of the second US plane involved says after their mistake is realised: "We're in jail dude". The other pilot then weeps, saying: "God dammit".

Oxford coroner Andrew Walker, who is hearing the inquest into the soldier's death, earlier demanded that the Ministry of Defence hand over the tape after the ministry had earlier told L/Cpl Hull's family that it did not exist.

But now Mr Walker said he would take a "pragmatic" approach to showing the video.

He said in a pre-inquest hearing: "I can say quite categorically that if it were not for the potential delay and distress this would cause the family, I would not be willing to be bound by an agreement with the US as to use of evidence that I consider crucial to this inquest."

He added: "I would be wrong to accept that the US are correct in seeking to bind the hands of the coroners' court in this way but in these circumstances I feel that in order to make progress and provide the family with closure, it seems to me that I must act in this way as far as the copy of that video is concerned."

ITV News

Seems a bit pointless banning the video since some of it has already been shown in the news.