A British fighter who travelled to Ukraine to help the war effort was unlawfully killed by a ‘comrade’, an inquest found today.
Daniel Burke, a former paratrooper from Manchester, went missing from the Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine in August 2023, Manchester Coroner’s Court heard this morning.
A ‘suspect’, who has previously been named as Nourine Abdelfetah, and Australian-Algerian trooper as known as ‘Jihadi Adam’, led Ukrainian officials to the 36-year-old’s body the following month and claimed he had shot him by accident.
Abdelfetah is now wanted by police after fleeing the war-torn country. Police have not discussed a possible motive.
Coroner Zak Golombek said: ‘Daniel died with bravery and valour and yet sadly and tragically was killed by cowardice and dishonour.’
Detective Sergeant Danielle Bullivant told the inquest Mr Burke set up company Dark Angels, a group of military personnel who went to the frontline to evacuate the injured.
The inquest was told Mr Burke had previously travelled to Syria to fight against Islamic State, after being ‘heavily affected’ by events in Manchester in May 2017, when 22 people died in the Manchester Arena bombing.
Ms Bullivant confirmed the suspect had been working with Mr Burke in Ukraine and they were ‘comrades’.
Daniel Burke (pictured), from south Manchester, disappeared from the Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine last August
Mr Burke’s body was later found miles from the frontline with gunshot wounds
During the inquest, Mr Burke’s brother Kevin asked whether Abdulfetah may have fought on the opposing side to him in Syria.
He said: ‘There’s so many different stories but that is one of the stories.’
Ms Bullivant said police had no intelligence to suggest the two had met before working together in Ukraine. She said there was no indication of any prior issues between the two.
On August 11, Mr Burke spoke to his family in the morning and planned to contact them over Facetime later that day, she said.
CCTV showed him spending the day with the suspect, and in the late afternoon travelling to an abandoned training ground.
As part of police investigations after Mr Burke went missing the suspect was interviewed and gave separate versions of events, the inquest heard.
He led police to Mr Burke’s body and told them he had accidentally killed him during a training exercise.
He claimed he had fired at least two shots – one accidentally while he was carrying Mr Burke in a training exercise and a second for reasons unknown.
Mr Burke set up his own volunteer unit in Ukraine called the Dark Angels (pictured)
The court heard a forensic post-mortem found Mr Burke had been shot at least three times – in his head, lower neck and central chest.
Ms Bullivant said results of ballistics investigations done in Ukraine suggested it was impossible to accidentally fire the weapon, an AKS74U.
‘Whilst there was evidence initially presented that it was an accident, I reject that based on evidence gathered by Ukrainian authorities and GMP,’ Mr Golombeck said
‘[Mr Burke] was unarmed and unable to defend himself.’
In a statement read out by Greater Manchester Police, Mr Burke’s family said they are ‘still yearning for answers’ about what happened to him.
‘As a family, we cannot do this alone,’ they said.
‘We are hopeful that the Ukraine authorities will progress the investigation into Daniel’s death, and we hope one day we will be able to say that we have justice for Daniel.
Detective Sergeant Danielle Bullivant told the inquest Mr Burke set up company Dark Angels, a group of military personnel who went to the frontline to evacuate the injured
‘Daniel had the most infectious smile and he loved making others laugh. This is how we will remember him and keep his memory alive.’
Detective Chief Superintendent Lewis Hughes offered his ‘deepest condolences’ to Mr Burke’s family and close friends.
‘We hope that today’s ruling of unlawful killing goes some way in reassuring Daniel’s family and loved ones that this wasn’t an accident,’ he said.
‘Daniel was killed and his family deserve answers.’