A former British paratrooper who joined the Ukrainian war effort against Russia was unlawfully killed by a “comrade,” a coroner has ruled.
Daniel Burke, 36, from Manchester, was assisting Ukrainian armed forces when he was fatally shot in August 2023, far from the frontline. An inquest held by Manchester Area Coroner Zak Golombeck revealed that Mr. Burke’s death was caused by someone he knew, describing the incident as an act of “cowardice and dishonour.”
The suspect, identified as Australian national Abdelfetah “Adam” Nourine, also known as “Jihadi Adam,” is wanted by Ukrainian police after fleeing the country. Nourine had told Ukrainian authorities he accidentally shot Mr. Burke during a training exercise, but the coroner rejected this claim, citing evidence from Ukrainian police and Greater Manchester Police (GMP).
Burke’s remains were discovered buried in an underground pipe at a military training ground in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region. Detailing the incident, Mr. Golombeck stated, “Whilst there was evidence initially presented that it was an accident, I reject that based on evidence gathered… [Mr Burke] was unarmed and unable to defend himself.”
Ballistics evidence revealed Mr. Burke had been shot three times—in the head, lower neck, and chest—with an assault rifle. Ukrainian and GMP investigations indicated that the weapon used could not have been fired accidentally, casting significant doubt on Nourine’s account.
CCTV footage showed Burke spending the day with Nourine before they traveled to the abandoned training ground where the killing occurred. Nourine reportedly provided inconsistent accounts during police interviews before leading authorities to Mr. Burke’s body.
Detective Sergeant Danielle Bullivant, speaking at the inquest, said Burke was deeply impacted by the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, which motivated his later humanitarian efforts. On the morning of his death, Mr. Burke had contacted his family and promised to reconnect later that day.
Speaking to the BBC, Mr. Burke’s mother, Diane Snaith, expressed her devastation “My heartache will always be there because Daniel’s gone and gone in, you know, such an awful manner that I’ll never, ever get over it. Never.”
The suspect, now a fugitive, remains under investigation by Ukrainian authorities, who have issued a warrant for his arrest. Meanwhile, Mr. Burke’s family continues to grieve the loss of a man remembered for his courage, compassion, and dedication to helping others.
Mr. Golombeck concluded the inquest by praising Mr. Burke’s bravery and expressing regret for the tragic circumstances of his death “Daniel Burke died with bravery and valour and was sadly killed by cowardice and dishonour.”
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