No further inquiry into death of Aus soldier in Afghanistan

THERE will be no further Commission of Inquiry into the death of an Australian Special Force officer in Afghanistan last year.

THERE will be no further Commission of Inquiry into the death of an Australian Special Force officer in Afghanistan last year.

Sergeant Blaine Diddams, MG, was killed on July 2 last year during a mission targeting a known insurgent commander in the Chorah Valley.

An internal Department of Defence inquiry into Sgt Diddams' death had only one recommendation, that no Commission of Inquiry be held into the casualty.

Sgt Diddams was last week post-humously awarded the Medal for Gallantry as part of the Queen's Birthday Honours for his actions during the Afghanistan mission.

The DoD accepted the single recommendation of the inquiry officer who examined the circumstances surrounding Sgt Diddams' death.

Defence Minister Stephen Smith decided not to release the report into Sgt Diddams' death.

Originally published as No further inquiry into death of Aus soldier in Afghanistan