The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr William Hague)
In his statement of 13 March 2012, Official Report, column 141, the Secretary of State for Defence informed the House of the deaths of the British architect, Chris McManus, and his Italian colleague Franco Lamolinara, who were taken hostage by Islamist terrorist group Ansaru in Nigeria on 12 May 2011 and who tragically were killed by their captors during a joint UK/Nigerian rescue operation on 8 March 2012. The Secretary of State for Defence reminded the House that Her Majesty’s coroner was legally responsible for determining the cause of Chris McManus’ death and that his statement could not in any way prejudice the course of the coroner’s inquiries.
HM coroner for Swindon and Wiltshire has now concluded his investigation, and held an inquest in Salisbury on 17 May 2013. He has recorded a verdict of unlawful killing.