A British former soldier, Daniel Burke, was unlawfully killed by a “comrade” while volunteering in Ukraine, an inquest has revealed.
The 36-year-old, from Manchester, had travelled to Ukraine to assist in the fight against Russian forces but tragically lost his life far from the frontline.
The Manchester Area Coroner, Zak Golombeck, confirmed that Burke died “with bravery and valour” but was “sadly killed by cowardice and dishonour”.
The coroner’s findings came after a detailed investigation into his death, which occurred 27 miles from the frontline.
The Australian national, known as Abdelfetah ‘Adam’ Nourine and referred to as “Jihadi Adam” in the inquest, is said to have shot Burke while they were practising drills.
Nourine later claimed that the shooting was accidental, but this version of events was disputed by the coroner, who rejected it based on evidence gathered by Ukrainian authorities and Greater Manchester Police.
Burke’s remains were discovered buried in an underground pipe at a military training ground in the Zaporizhzhia region, raising further suspicion about the circumstances surrounding his death.
Detective Sergeant Danielle Bullivant revealed that Burke had previously set up a group called Dark Angels, which was made up of former military personnel dedicated to evacuating the wounded from the frontlines.
The inquest also heard that Burke had been deeply affected by the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, prompting him to travel to Syria to fight against ISIS.
Ukrainian police are actively seeking the suspect, Nourine, who fled the country following the incident.
This case underscores the risks faced by foreign volunteers who travel to conflict zones and highlights the importance of accountability in such situations.
