Soldier 'could have survived attack'
The first British soldier to die in the Iraq war could have survived the attack which killed him, according to a preliminary Ministry of Defence report.

Sergeant Steven Roberts, from Wadebridge in Cornwall, was shot in the chest during a riot near Basra three days into the conflict on 24 March.

The MoD report sent to Sgt Roberts' widow Samantha at her home in Shipley, West Yorkshire, confirms the 33-year-old tank commander was ordered to give his protective body armour to another soldier.

North Cornwall MP Paul Tyler said in the House of Commons on Thursday: "His widow and family are naturally devastated by this information, dragged out of the Ministry of Defence after eight long months of waiting and worrying."

Tests have shown the ceramic plates in the body armour would have stopped the bullet which caused his fatal wound.

He was given an order, he agreed with that order to give it to infantrymen who were more at risk than him
Samantha Roberts

After the MP revealed the detail of the interim report, Sgt Roberts' widow Samantha said: "I had my suspicions and this confirms them.

"I'm absolutely devastated and angry, we've had no apology.

"Steve would have been here this Christmas."

Mr Tyler quoted the document which said: "Had Sgt Roberts been wearing ECBA (body armour) with the protective plates correctly fitted at the time of the shooting, the 7.62mm tracer round that struck him in the centre of his chest...would have been defeated."

A consultant pathologist and forensic scientist staged a reconstruction which showed the bullet could have been halted if Sgt Roberts had been wearing full body armour.

Leg wound

They also believe he would have survived another wound to the leg.

Mrs Roberts also revealed her husband had been concerned about handing over his special body armour.

"He was nervous when he told me he had to give up his body armour.

"He was given an order, he agreed with that order to give it to infantrymen who were more at risk than him."

Mr Tyler called on Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon to meet Mrs Roberts .

Mrs Roberts said she would like to meet Mr Hoon as she felt she was owed "an explanation and an apology" for her husband's death.

Mr Tyler said the MoD was yet to clarify whether Sgt Roberts was killed by an Iraqi or by "friendly fire".