PLEA TWIST
Soldier Daniel Khalife changes plea mid-way through trial as he now admits fleeing from prison
Khalife still denies committing an act prejudicial to the safety of the state
A SOLDIER accused of spying for Iran changed his plea mid-way through his trial and now admits fleeing from prison.
Trial judge Mrs Justice Cheema Grubb told jurors Daniel Khalife, 23, accepts he “deliberately escaped”.
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When the charge was read to him again yesterday, Khalife answered: “I’m guilty.”
But he still denies committing an act prejudicial to the safety of the state and perpetrating a bomb hoax while with the Royal Corps of Signals.
Khalife joined the Army at 16, contacted a man said to be linked to Iranian intelligence the next year and then told MI6 he wanted to be a double agent.
Prosecutors allege Khalife, of Kingston upon Thames, South West London, intended to flee to Iran after escaping from HMP Wandsworth last year.
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Jurors heard he held on to the underside of a food delivery truck while using a sling made from kitchen trousers.
During three days at large he is said to have phoned his Iranian handler.
Khalife told Woolwich crown court: “I was not thinking straight.
"I was not looking for any help to aid the escape — I made contact out of curiosity.”
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He previously told the court he was “never a real spy” but dreamed of becoming a double agent and handed over fabricated documents to the Iranians in a bid to make that come true.
The trial continues.
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