'I saw British student shot by Israeli soldier'

An American peace activist has given evidence in the trial of an Israeli soldier accused of shooting dead British student Tom Hurndall.

Mr Hurndall, 22, from Tufnell Park, was shot as he worked for a charity acting as "buffers" between Palestinians and the military at the Rafah refugee camp in the Gaza Strip.

He later died of his injuries after spending nine months in a coma at a London hospital.

Peace worker Joseph Carr, 23, appeared at a military base near Tel Aviv where Sergeant Wahid Taysir denies manslaughter.

After the hearing Mr Carr said: "I was very close to Tom when he was shot, about five or six metres away. Tom moved into the area to evacuate the children. I looked away and heard a shot and a scream, and saw him on the ground with blood coming from his head."

Mr Hurndall had been in Gaza to photograph the work of the International Solidarity Movement. Taysir was charged with assault last December.

The charges were upgraded when Mr Hurndall died in January. The trial continues.