A CONTROVERSIAL cockpit video showing what happened on the day a Dorset soldier earned a George Cross during a fatal friendly fire incident in Iraq is to be shown at an inquest.

Oxfordshire assistant deputy coroner Andrew Walker ruled the footage would be viewed when the hearing into the death of Lance Corporal Matty Hull resumes.

A copy of the classified video was yesterday shown on The Sun newspaper's website, making a mockery of the US government's attempts to keep it secret.

The film shows US pilots opening fire on a British convoy in Iraq in March 2003, leaving 23-year-old Lance Corporal Hull dead and four Household Cavalry Regiment comrades seriously injured.

Heroic Chris Finney of Ferndown - an 18-year-old trooper at the time - saved further loss of life by jumping on to a burning vehicle to radio Mayday and call off the strike. His actions led to him becoming the youngest person ever to win a George Cross.

The teenager, who had less than a year's service, had been driving the leading Scimitar armoured vehicle of his troop as it searched for Saddam Hussein's troops along the Shatt Al Arab waterway, north of Basra.

During the early afternoon, the four vehicles stopped inside an area in which US pilots had been told not to fire. They were displaying orange panels used to identify coalition forces and Union flags.

Without warning, two US A-10 tankbuster jets opened fire on the soldiers. Two vehicles were hit and caught fire, and ammunition began exploding inside their turrets.

Chris managed to get out and started running for cover, but noticed his vehicle's gunner, Lance Corporal Alan Tudball, was still trapped.

He dashed back to rescue his friend, hauled him to a safer position and bandaged his wounds. He then broke cover to return to his burning vehicle and radio in a report of what had happened.

As the two aircraft lined up for a second attack, Chris threw himself over the gunner and was hit in the back and legs while the gunner received head wounds.

Despite his injuries, Chris went back to try and rescue the driver of the second Scimitar, but was beaten by the heat, smoke and exploding ammunition.

The video appears to show one of the US pilots gloating as a soldier drags burning comrades from the vehicles, then weeping as he realises what he had done.

Matty Hull's widow Susan said: "The inquest is my one and only chance to hear how and why Matty died. The video is vital evidence and must be shown.

"I do not relish hearing it in open court, but after years of being told it didn't exist or was secret, I feel that it was right not to give up hope."