A CORONER has ruled that an SAS soldier was "unlawfully killed" on a secret mission in Iraq, but the family of Nicolas Brown saw their questions about his death go unanswered.

Lawyers for the Ministry of Defence challenged questions the family - including Mr Brown's father John, himself a former SAS soldier - tried to raise during the hearing at Hereford Town Hall today (Thursday).

Evidence outlined how Nicholas Brown, aged 34, who was born and brought up in Hereford, died while his team was searching the house of a known terrorist in March last year.

Home Office pathologist Dr Nicholas Hunt told the inquest that the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the chest.

The Brown family wanted more information on what happened before Mr Brown went into the house after a search dog sent in first was shot.

Herefordshire coroner David Halpern upheld the MoD's challenges to such questions saying:" We don't want any information to come out of this inquest that could be harmful to future soldiers."

Mr Halpern recorded an unlawful killing verdict saying he was satisfied, on the evidence, that Mr Brown died in battle. Full story in next week's Hereford Times.