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Cheryl James: Deepcut soldier's death was suicide, coroner rules Cheryl James: Deepcut soldier's death was suicide, coroner rules
(35 minutes later)
An army recruit who died from a gunshot wound to the head at Deepcut barracks shot herself, a coroner has ruled. The death of an army recruit from a gunshot wound to the head at Deepcut barracks was suicide, a coroner has ruled.
Pte Cheryl James, 18, was found dead with a bullet wound to the head in 1995. She was one of four recruits to die at the base in seven years.Pte Cheryl James, 18, was found dead with a bullet wound to the head in 1995. She was one of four recruits to die at the base in seven years.
Recording a verdict of suicide, coroner Brian Barker QC said her death was caused by a "self-inflicted" wound and Pte James fired the gun intentionally. Coroner Brian Barker QC said the wound was "self-inflicted" and Pte James fired the gun intentionally.
He said there was no evidence to conclude she was unlawful killed. He said there was no evidence to conclude she was unlawfully killed.
The coroner previously said there was a "sexualised" atmosphere at the barracks in Surrey but that an allegation Pte James was coerced into sex the night before her death was "wholly without foundation". 'Shining life'
A fellow squaddie had told the inquest Pte James was ordered to have sex with another soldier the night before she died. The coroner ruled his claim "at highest was assumption, at its lowest was fantasy". Pte James, from north Wales, had been carrying out lone guard duty at the barracks when she was found dead, something the coroner said was contrary to army policy.
Mr Barker said there were far too few officers at the Surrey Barracks to train and look after the young squaddies, who were left bored and indisciplined. The risk of self-harm to trainees during lone armed guard duty had not been adequately recognised, nor had adequate steps been taken to reduce the risk, he added.
Mr Barker said Pte James had a "short, shining life" and had left a legacy of a complete re-evaluation of how the army trains its soldiers.
The coroner said Pte James had a "preoccupation with death" and would sometimes talk to her friends about what guests she would want at her funeral.
He said she was disillusioned with the army and had a troubled adolescence, which included taking an overdose.
'Sexualised atmosphere'
Mr Barker praised Pte James's parents, Des and Doreen, for fighting to discover the truth behind their daughter's death.
"We have explored as best we can what could be unearthed at this late stage within the legal constraints I am bound by," he said.
"Clear answers as to why are just not there to be seen."
Earlier the coroner said there was a "sexualised" atmosphere at the barracks in Surrey.
Mr Barker said there were far too few officers to train and look after the young squaddies, who were left bored and indisciplined.
The malevolent culture at Deepcut BarracksThe malevolent culture at Deepcut Barracks
Who was Pte Cheryl James?Who was Pte Cheryl James?
Follow the latest live updatesFollow the latest live updates
"While some intermittent training was provided, there were too few permanent staff to deliver it and put into place a structured regime to occupy and meet a duty of care to those young men and women.""While some intermittent training was provided, there were too few permanent staff to deliver it and put into place a structured regime to occupy and meet a duty of care to those young men and women."
Given the "dearth" of a structured life, he said it was "unsurprising that trainees turned to each other for stimulation".Given the "dearth" of a structured life, he said it was "unsurprising that trainees turned to each other for stimulation".
While sexual relations were not prohibited between trainees, the extent to which they were able to have sex was "inappropriate". He also found that there was evidence of inappropriate sexual relationships between commanding officers or instructors and trainees.
The coroner also found that there was evidence of inappropriate sexual relationships between commanding officers or instructors and trainees.
Mr Barker said the Army accepted that some instructors "saw young females as a sexual challenge".
Pte James was in relationships with two men at the time of her death - Royal Engineer Simeon Carr-Minns and another soldier Paul Wilkinson.Pte James was in relationships with two men at the time of her death - Royal Engineer Simeon Carr-Minns and another soldier Paul Wilkinson.
Both men wanted to be in an exclusive relationship with her and were upset at the situation, the inquest heard.
On the day of her death, Pte Wilkinson went to see Pte James while she was on guard duty to give her an "ultimatum" to choose between them.On the day of her death, Pte Wilkinson went to see Pte James while she was on guard duty to give her an "ultimatum" to choose between them.
The inquest heard Pte James told him she wanted to be with him and he left believing she was fine.The inquest heard Pte James told him she wanted to be with him and he left believing she was fine.
Punishment for trainees
The coroner ruled that he did not consider Pte Wilkinson a suspect in Pte James's death.The coroner ruled that he did not consider Pte Wilkinson a suspect in Pte James's death.
Pte James, from north Wales, had been carrying out lone guard duty at the barracks when she was found dead, which the coroner said military rules should not have allowed. The inquest heard that non-commissioned officers (NCOs) meted out guard duty to trainees as punishment, which was also against army rules.
Non-commissioned officers (NCOs) meted out guard duty to trainees as punishment, which was against army rules.
The coroner also attacked the "haphazard" and "insufficient" provision of welfare support at Deepcut and criticised the lack of female officers.The coroner also attacked the "haphazard" and "insufficient" provision of welfare support at Deepcut and criticised the lack of female officers.
The inquest heard Pte James had mixed feelings about being in the Army and spoke about leaving.The inquest heard Pte James had mixed feelings about being in the Army and spoke about leaving.
Five months before her death, Pte Sean Benton, from Hastings in Sussex, died from a gunshot wound at the barracks.Five months before her death, Pte Sean Benton, from Hastings in Sussex, died from a gunshot wound at the barracks.
Pte James chatted to a friend about this and said it would be "really easy to shoot yourself".Pte James chatted to a friend about this and said it would be "really easy to shoot yourself".
On another occasion, she told an electrician that the only way to get out of the Army would be to "put a gun to your head", but those with her took this as a joke.On another occasion, she told an electrician that the only way to get out of the Army would be to "put a gun to your head", but those with her took this as a joke.
The inquest, which is the second into Pte James's death, began in February and heard from more than 100 witnesses.The inquest, which is the second into Pte James's death, began in February and heard from more than 100 witnesses.
A first inquest into Pte James's death in December 1995 recorded an open verdict.A first inquest into Pte James's death in December 1995 recorded an open verdict.
This second inquest was ordered after High Court judges quashed the original findings.This second inquest was ordered after High Court judges quashed the original findings.
Mr Barker said it was regrettable there had not been a more thorough investigation at the time of Pte James's death, adding the inquest had been "a long and a difficult exercise".Mr Barker said it was regrettable there had not been a more thorough investigation at the time of Pte James's death, adding the inquest had been "a long and a difficult exercise".
Paramedics, civilian and military police and investigators were called to the scene, but Mr Barker said that almost from the outset it was assumed that Pte James had died from a self-inflicted injury.Paramedics, civilian and military police and investigators were called to the scene, but Mr Barker said that almost from the outset it was assumed that Pte James had died from a self-inflicted injury.
"Although some steps were taken to limit disturbance at the scene, it was not treated as a scene of crime might be. It was not preserved," said Mr Barker."Although some steps were taken to limit disturbance at the scene, it was not treated as a scene of crime might be. It was not preserved," said Mr Barker.
The inquest also heard that the post-mortem could have been more thorough and that the bullet fragments were disposed of.The inquest also heard that the post-mortem could have been more thorough and that the bullet fragments were disposed of.
The mother of another soldier who died, Pte Geoff Gray, said she was also applying for the open verdict on her own son's death to be overturned.The mother of another soldier who died, Pte Geoff Gray, said she was also applying for the open verdict on her own son's death to be overturned.
Pte Gray, from Seaham, County Durham, was 17 when he was found dead from two gunshot wounds at the base in September 2001.Pte Gray, from Seaham, County Durham, was 17 when he was found dead from two gunshot wounds at the base in September 2001.
Diane Gray said: "This case opens the doors for the other families to find out what happened to their children."Diane Gray said: "This case opens the doors for the other families to find out what happened to their children."
Surrey Police has apologised to the James family for the questioning by their barrister during the inquest, saying they showed "admirable resilience" throughout their long search for answers.Surrey Police has apologised to the James family for the questioning by their barrister during the inquest, saying they showed "admirable resilience" throughout their long search for answers.
"Any additional stress caused to the family during the inquest was not intentional and we apologise for any ways they feel Surrey Police made the experience worse," it said in a statement."Any additional stress caused to the family during the inquest was not intentional and we apologise for any ways they feel Surrey Police made the experience worse," it said in a statement.
Who were the Deepcut four? Background to the deaths and timeline of events.Who were the Deepcut four? Background to the deaths and timeline of events.