Show Notes
From Pauls Valley in Oklahoma, USA, Miles Hill always dreamed of joining the US Marine Corps. Growing up, family life was coloured by US military history - his grandparents served in World War Two and Korea. So when al Qaeda terrorists attacked the US on 11 September, 2001, it set in motion a chain of events that brought Hill to Iraq in 2003, as part of the Marine Corps.
An idealistic 19-year-old, Hill had little understanding of geo-politics, but it was his absolute conviction that the world would be a better place without the Saddam Hussein. The Iraqi dictator had been a destabilising influence in the region since the 1990 Gulf War. Now accused of stockpiling weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) as well as forging links with al Qaeda terrorists, Hill and his fellow Marines were tasked with leading the ground invasion and deposing Hussein. On the morning of the invasion, military leaders warned of the bloodiest urban battle in US Marine Corp history. By the end of that day, Miles Hill would find himself at the centre of one of this century’s most iconic moments.
In 2021, Sky News is marking some of the century’s biggest news events through the personal stories of lives defined by unforgettable moments from the last 21-years. Taking down Saddam is episode 14 of the 21-part series StoryCast ’21
CREDITS
‘Taking down Saddam’ was produced and written by Rob Mulhern. Recordings and digital Tom Gillespie Special thanks to Miles Hill and David Chater. Presented by Jayne Secker Sound Design, Rob Mulhern TV treatment, Victoria Hudson-Grant Archive, Simon Windsor Head of Radio, Sky News, Dave Terris Design and graphics, Brian Gillingham Social media, Chris Scott Press and Marketing, Alexandra Horton Email: [email protected] For more on this story go to www.skynews/storycast21 #StoryCast21
More from Russell Brand: On Trial
Warning: This episode contains graphic descriptions of alleged rape and sexual assault. Sky News' Martin Brunt and Katie Spencer report more of the prosecution case against Russell Brand, as the family and friends of a woman who accuses him of rape in 2009 give evidence. The woman claims she was anally raped by the comedian at his home. Her friends, family and colleagues have given their accounts of what she’d told them - including that she’d been "humiliated, scared, violated and in pain" after the alleged rape. The defence cross-examined witnesses including the ex-boyfriend of the accuser, who they claimed had given conflicting statements to the police and the court. Brand faces three counts of rape, three of sexual assault and one of indecent assault. He denies all the charges. Email the podcast: [email protected].
Warning: This episode contains graphic descriptions of alleged rape and sexual assault. Sky News' Martin Brunt and Katie Spencer report more of the case against Russell Brand as a third woman who has accused him of rape continues giving evidence and is cross-examined. The woman alleges she had consensual vaginal sex with Russell Brand at his home, before he anally raped her. She said, ‘I felt completely degraded and like I'd been treated like an animal, like a piece of meat’. During cross-examination Ian Winter KC, for the defence, brought up conflicting accounts in her story as she shared it over the years. Brand faces three counts of rape, three of sexual assault and one of indecent assault. He denies all the charges. Email the podcast: [email protected].
Warning: This episode contains graphic descriptions of alleged rape and sexual assault. Sky News' Martin Brunt and Katie Spencer report more of the prosecution case against Russell Brand as a third woman accuses him of rape and two more women allege he sexually assaulted them. One woman claims she was anally raped by the comedian at his home. She said that when she asked him to stop, he continued and she said she was in pain and couldn't speak or breathe. The court also heard from two more women who allege that Brand sexually assaulted them, both in their workplaces. Brand faces three counts of rape, three of sexual assault and one of indecent assault. He denies all the charges. Email the podcast [email protected].
Warning: This episode contains graphic descriptions of alleged rape and sexual assault. Sky News' Martin Brunt and Katie Spencer report more from the prosecution case against Russell Brand as a second woman accuses him of rape. She alleged that within a minute of meeting her in 2004, Russell Brand grabbed her breasts, then dragged her into a Soho bar toilet and orally raped her, afterwards saying “I guess we should swap numbers now”. Brand’s defence barrister questioned why she did not report the allegation until 2023. The woman said she was afraid she would not be believed. Brand faces three counts of rape, three of sexual assault and one of indecent assault. He denies all the charges. Email the podcast [email protected]
Today, a second alleged victim took the stand in Russell Brand’s trial. She told the court Brand grabbed her arm and tried to pull her into a toilet, but she pulled away saying “are you mad?”. He allegedly turned from being “jovial” to a “wild eyed maniac”. Sky News’ Katie Spencer and Martin Brunt were in court for heated exchanges as Brand’s defence barrister challenged the woman. Brand faces three counts of rape, three of sexual assault and one of indecent assault. He denies all the charges. Email the podcast: [email protected]