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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Cheryl James Deepcut death: Soldier's body is exhumed | Cheryl James Deepcut death: Soldier's body is exhumed |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The body of an 18-year-old soldier found dead at Deepcut Barracks has been exhumed, ahead of a new inquest into her death. | The body of an 18-year-old soldier found dead at Deepcut Barracks has been exhumed, ahead of a new inquest into her death. |
| Pte Cheryl James, from Llangollen, Denbighshire, was found with a bullet wound to her head in Surrey in 1995. | Pte Cheryl James, from Llangollen, Denbighshire, was found with a bullet wound to her head in Surrey in 1995. |
| A pre-inquest review at Woking Coroner's Court was told her body was exhumed last month and metallic fragments had been recovered. | A pre-inquest review at Woking Coroner's Court was told her body was exhumed last month and metallic fragments had been recovered. |
| A fresh inquest into her death is expected to take place in February. | A fresh inquest into her death is expected to take place in February. |
| Pte James was one of four young recruits found dead with gunshot wounds at the barracks between 1995 and 2002. | Pte James was one of four young recruits found dead with gunshot wounds at the barracks between 1995 and 2002. |
| The open verdict recorded at the original inquest held in December 1995 was quashed by High Court judges last year. | |
| Coroner Judge Brian Barker QC told the pre-inquest review that Pte James' remains were exhumed and then reburied after two pathologists carried out a post-mortem examination. | Coroner Judge Brian Barker QC told the pre-inquest review that Pte James' remains were exhumed and then reburied after two pathologists carried out a post-mortem examination. |
| He said the metallic fragments recovered would be subject to ballistic analysis. | He said the metallic fragments recovered would be subject to ballistic analysis. |
| The family of Pte James was present during a short reburial ceremony last month, Judge Barker said. | The family of Pte James was present during a short reburial ceremony last month, Judge Barker said. |
| 'Significant criticisms' | |
| They had repeatedly called for her body to be exhumed to resolve a dispute over the ballistics evidence. | They had repeatedly called for her body to be exhumed to resolve a dispute over the ballistics evidence. |
| Alison Foster QC, representing the family, insisted the experts that studied the metallic fragments "ought not to have a significant connection either with the MoD [Ministry of Defence] or indeed a police force and certainly no connection with Surrey Police" owing to a "considerable shadow" over the initial handling of the case. | |
| Of the MoD and Surrey Police, she added: "We make significant criticisms of both." | |
| Judge Barker said "reasonable progress" had been made getting hold of witnesses but urged anyone who had previously given a statement and not been contacted during the inquiry to contact the coroner's court. | |
| At a previous hearing, he said the full inquest would consider whether there were "shortcomings" with the barracks's policies on sexual behaviour, supervision of young females, drugs, alcohol and accommodation. | |
| It is due to begin on 1 February and expected to last for seven weeks. | It is due to begin on 1 February and expected to last for seven weeks. |
| Surrey Police's request that Pte James' inquest should be heard alongside fresh inquests into the deaths of Privates Sean Benton, Geoff Gray and James Collinson was turned down in May. |