29/06/2005

Bigley family appeals for release of body

The family of Ken Bigley, the British hostage murdered in Iraq last year, have appealed for his body to be released.

The 62-year-old engineer from Liverpool was working in Baghdad, when he was taken hostage by Iraqi militant group Tawhid and Jihad on September 16, 2004.

Two of Mr Bigley’s American colleagues captured at the same time were executed the following week. Ken was beheaded two weeks later.

However, Mr Bigley’s family have not held a funeral for him, because his remains has not been returned to them.

Ken’s mother Lil told BBC’s ‘Panorama’ programme that finding his body would help to “put an end to the sad story”.

His brother, Stan, told Panorama that they had received information indicating that Ken’s body had been buried. He told the show: “We would love to come out, so we can get his remains back.”

Mr Bigley’s other brother Paul told Panorama that the family had received two private videos of him before he was killed. He told the programme that in the first video, Ken was dressed normally, was clean shaved and appeared “more relaxed”. However, the second video showed Mr Bigley pleading for his life and looking terrified, his brother said.

'Panorama: Hostage' is due to be shown on BBC One at 9pm on Wednesday evening.

(KMcA/SP)

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