Secrecy surrounding a report into Operation Burnham may have led the Defence Force (NZDF) to believe no civilians were killed.
A high ranking military official admits misinterpretation led him to relay that no civilians were killed during Operation Burnham.
The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) document found casualties may have been inflicted by a faulty gun on a coalition helicopter, during the 2010 raid in Afghanistan.
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But New Zealand did not have clearance for the full report, and staff at ISAF headquarters would not hand over the report.
However, Brigadier Christopher Parsons told the hearing on Tuesday afternoon he was allowed to read one of the final paragraphs of the report. He said he misread an abbreviation in the paragraph - assuming AF meant Air Force, but it actually meant "assault force".
"This means it clears only the New Zealand and Afghan troops of any allegations."
Colonel Rian McKinstry, a Senior National Officer in Afghanistan at the time of the 2010 SAS-led raid, denies he was the person who put the report in a Defence Force safe.
It was revealed on Monday the ISAF document, which ruled civilian casualties during the mission were possible, lay dormant for four years until its discovery in 2014.
During cross-examination by Davey Salmon - counsel for Hit and Run co-author Jon Stephenson, McKinstry rejected having anything to do with the document.
He admitted requesting a copy but said he never received it and never saw it.
Earlier on Tuesday, he recalled feeling relieved at a report into the NZDF's actions in Afghanistan in 2010.
Colonel Rian McKinstry says he learned, from those involved with the ISAF report, possible civilian casualties were due to a mechanical gun fault, not New Zealand troops.
The hearing is continuing.
Newshub.
