Soldier's throat slit during search and rescue

A British security guard kidnapped by the Taliban was apparently killed as American soldiers neared the hideaway on a search and rescue mission in Afghanistan, an inquest heard today.

David John Addison, 46, from Wiltshire, England was kidnapped as he drove along a road under construction in the Farah province of the country on August 31, 2005.

The body of the former staff sergeant was found days later on September 5 on a plateau in the mountainous region of Bala Boluk.

His throat had been slit repeatedly with a knife.

At an inquest in Trowbridge Magistrates’ Court, Wiltshire, Swindon coroner David Masters recorded a verdict of unlawful killing.

In his summary of evidence, Mr Masters expressed “regret” at the lack of assistance provided by US forces during his inquiry.

He said: “It is of regret that we have not received the assistance that we would expect to have received in this inquiry by American forces to assist me; but not just for me but for the family in understanding more clearly how it was he had been found and how he had come by his death on September 3.”

The sentiment was later echoed by Paul Pilkington, the father of Mr Addison’s widow, Karen.

“As a family we feel we should not have waited two years for an inquest,” said Mr Pilkington.

“With the tragedy being as it was, it has now dragged on two years which is a long time to wait.”

The inquest heard Mr Addison had been in Afghanistan since June 16 and was employed by the Texas-based security firm, United States Protection and Investigation (USPI), following a recommendation.

He was part of a team providing protection against insurgents to construction workers laying 72km of new road linking Farah city and a ring road.