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Cheryl James Deepcut inquest will not hear sexual abuse culture claim Cheryl James Deepcut inquest will not hear sexual abuse culture claim
(35 minutes later)
Claims of a culture of sexual abuse at Deepcut Barracks will not be considered at the inquest into the death of a teenage recruit, a coroner has ruled.Claims of a culture of sexual abuse at Deepcut Barracks will not be considered at the inquest into the death of a teenage recruit, a coroner has ruled.
Pte Cheryl James, 18, from Llangollen, Denbighshire, was found with a bullet wound to her head in November 1995.Pte Cheryl James, 18, from Llangollen, Denbighshire, was found with a bullet wound to her head in November 1995.
She was one of four soldiers who died at the Surrey barracks between 1995 and 2002 amid claims of bullying and abuse.She was one of four soldiers who died at the Surrey barracks between 1995 and 2002 amid claims of bullying and abuse.
Coroner Brian Barker QC said the focus of the inquest at Woking Coroner's Court would be Pte James' mental state.Coroner Brian Barker QC said the focus of the inquest at Woking Coroner's Court would be Pte James' mental state.
Pte James's father Des is due to be the first witness.Pte James's father Des is due to be the first witness.
Mr Barker said he would focus on Pte James' state of mind on the day she died "on the basis of evidence not supposition" but he would also "keep his ruling under review".Mr Barker said he would focus on Pte James' state of mind on the day she died "on the basis of evidence not supposition" but he would also "keep his ruling under review".
'Fearless investigation''Fearless investigation'
He refused a request from Alison Foster QC, who is representing the family, to look at allegations of a culture of abuse at the base and the sexually inappropriate treatment of young females within the chain of command.He refused a request from Alison Foster QC, who is representing the family, to look at allegations of a culture of abuse at the base and the sexually inappropriate treatment of young females within the chain of command.
But he told the hearing he would explore "the impact of any sexual abuse against Cheryl on her state of mind".But he told the hearing he would explore "the impact of any sexual abuse against Cheryl on her state of mind".
He said the inquest was "not a public inquiry" but it would be "a full, frank and fearless investigation into Cheryl's death".He said the inquest was "not a public inquiry" but it would be "a full, frank and fearless investigation into Cheryl's death".
"I have a wide discretion as to scope and my inquiry may stretch wider... for the purposes of my conclusion.""I have a wide discretion as to scope and my inquiry may stretch wider... for the purposes of my conclusion."
The inquest will consider what happened the evening before Pte James died and whether there was a third party involved in her death.
Mr Barker said it would also look at any shortcomings in policy on sexual behaviour, supervision of young females, drugs, alcohol and accommodation.
In 2014, the High Court quashed the original 1995 inquest, which recorded an open verdict.In 2014, the High Court quashed the original 1995 inquest, which recorded an open verdict.
The inquest is expected to last seven weeks and hear evidence from more than 100 people.The inquest is expected to last seven weeks and hear evidence from more than 100 people.
Who were Deepcut four? Background to the deaths and timeline of eventsWho were Deepcut four? Background to the deaths and timeline of events
Ahead of the inquest, Mr James said: "There's no wrong verdict for me in this. 'Alarm bells'
Ahead of the inquest, Mr James, of Llanymynech, Powys, said: "There's no wrong verdict for me in this.
"As long as the process is impeccable, as long as I can look back and say everything we could do, we've done, that's the important thing.""As long as the process is impeccable, as long as I can look back and say everything we could do, we've done, that's the important thing."
'Begs many questions'
Mr James said when the army told him in 1995 that his daughter had killed herself, he initially accepted its version of events because he was brought up to believe organisations like the armed services "were on your side".Mr James said when the army told him in 1995 that his daughter had killed herself, he initially accepted its version of events because he was brought up to believe organisations like the armed services "were on your side".
"I suppose the alarm bells should have started to ring when the inquest was held after just three weeks," he said."I suppose the alarm bells should have started to ring when the inquest was held after just three weeks," he said.
"We later found out that the army had documented her death on the 14 December, which was a week earlier. So two weeks after her death the army had made a decision that it was a suicide.
"The coroner returned an open verdict, which in itself begs many, many questions about why didn't he just adjourn?
"Why wasn't the evidence there if [the army] were so sure it was a suicide? It is very, very simple to collect the evidence while everything is fresh."
'Escape scrutiny''Escape scrutiny'
Mr James told BBC home affairs correspondent June Kelly his 20-year fight for justice was no longer just about his daughter but for parents up and down the country who "place recruits in the care of the state".Mr James told BBC home affairs correspondent June Kelly his 20-year fight for justice was no longer just about his daughter but for parents up and down the country who "place recruits in the care of the state".
"It's not good enough, I believe, for the MoD today to say, 'Well it's all in the past and it's all been fixed and we have a policy of zero tolerance'."It's not good enough, I believe, for the MoD today to say, 'Well it's all in the past and it's all been fixed and we have a policy of zero tolerance'.
"You can't just use soundbites and these assurances to escape the scrutiny that should have taken place around that camp.""You can't just use soundbites and these assurances to escape the scrutiny that should have taken place around that camp."
Mr James told the Daily Telegraph at least 10 witnesses claim they were sexually exploited or ordered to have sex with soldiers.Mr James told the Daily Telegraph at least 10 witnesses claim they were sexually exploited or ordered to have sex with soldiers.
In January, Ms Foster told a pre-inquest hearing there was material suggesting she may have been "sexually coerced or raped" hours before she died.In January, Ms Foster told a pre-inquest hearing there was material suggesting she may have been "sexually coerced or raped" hours before she died.
Last summer, the recruit's remains were exhumed and a fresh post-mortem examination was carried out, leading to the recovery of metallic fragments that have been analysed by a ballistics expert.Last summer, the recruit's remains were exhumed and a fresh post-mortem examination was carried out, leading to the recovery of metallic fragments that have been analysed by a ballistics expert.
The family had repeatedly called for an exhumation in the hope of resolving a dispute over the ballistics evidence.The family had repeatedly called for an exhumation in the hope of resolving a dispute over the ballistics evidence.
Pte James was one of four soldiers found dead at Deepcut, Camberley, between 1995 and 2002.Pte James was one of four soldiers found dead at Deepcut, Camberley, between 1995 and 2002.
Ptes Sean Benton, James Collinson and Geoff Gray also died after sustaining bullet wounds.Ptes Sean Benton, James Collinson and Geoff Gray also died after sustaining bullet wounds.
June Kelly, BBC home affairs correspondentJune Kelly, BBC home affairs correspondent
This new inquest is the culmination of a battle by Cheryl James's parents, Doreen and Des, to find out about events on and before the November morning when their teenage daughter was found dead.This new inquest is the culmination of a battle by Cheryl James's parents, Doreen and Des, to find out about events on and before the November morning when their teenage daughter was found dead.
Together with the families of the other soldiers who died at Deepcut, Mr and Mrs James campaigned for a public inquiry. The families didn't succeed with that and so their lawyers began looking at the possibility of fresh inquests.Together with the families of the other soldiers who died at Deepcut, Mr and Mrs James campaigned for a public inquiry. The families didn't succeed with that and so their lawyers began looking at the possibility of fresh inquests.
Pte James's parents who, like two of the other families, are represented by lawyers from the human rights organisation Liberty, were the first to be granted a new inquest.Pte James's parents who, like two of the other families, are represented by lawyers from the human rights organisation Liberty, were the first to be granted a new inquest.
This was after Liberty had gained access to the material held by Surrey Police: 44 volumes of statements, documents, notes and photographs. Now, for the first time, this will come under detailed scrutiny in a public forum.This was after Liberty had gained access to the material held by Surrey Police: 44 volumes of statements, documents, notes and photographs. Now, for the first time, this will come under detailed scrutiny in a public forum.