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| Cheryl James died from 'self-inflicted shot', Deepcut inquest rules | Cheryl James died from 'self-inflicted shot', Deepcut inquest rules |
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| Two decades after the death of teenage army recruit Cheryl James at Deepcut barracks, a coroner has ruled that she inflicted the fatal shot in an “intended and deliberate act” and that the 18-year-old meant to die. | Two decades after the death of teenage army recruit Cheryl James at Deepcut barracks, a coroner has ruled that she inflicted the fatal shot in an “intended and deliberate act” and that the 18-year-old meant to die. |
| Related: Cheryl James: teacher recalled 'mixed-up kid' with 'deep-seated problems' | Related: Cheryl James: teacher recalled 'mixed-up kid' with 'deep-seated problems' |
| James, from Llangollen in north Wales, was found dead with a single bullet wound to the head while on lone guard duty at the Surrey barracks at 8.30am on 27 November 1995. | James, from Llangollen in north Wales, was found dead with a single bullet wound to the head while on lone guard duty at the Surrey barracks at 8.30am on 27 November 1995. |
| In a 98-page narrative verdict, coroner Brian Barker QC, ruled that James had taken her own life. Delivering his conclusion after a three-month inquest into her death he said: “The conclusion is self-infliction.” He added: “This was an intentional discharge by Ms James.” | In a 98-page narrative verdict, coroner Brian Barker QC, ruled that James had taken her own life. Delivering his conclusion after a three-month inquest into her death he said: “The conclusion is self-infliction.” He added: “This was an intentional discharge by Ms James.” |
| The Royal Logistics Corp trainee, who was awaiting posting, was one of four young army recruits to die from gunshot wounds at Deepcut between 1995 and 2002 amid allegations of abuse and bullying. | The Royal Logistics Corp trainee, who was awaiting posting, was one of four young army recruits to die from gunshot wounds at Deepcut between 1995 and 2002 amid allegations of abuse and bullying. |
| Barker told her parents, Des and Doreen James: “We have explored as best we can what can be unearthed at this late stage within the legal constraints I am bound by. Clear answers as to why are just not there to be seen.” Her parents had travelled a “long and harrowing road” in their 20-year battle for a full and open inquiry into her death, he said. | |
| Their legacy, he said, was that their fight had been the “spur” for the army to drive through reforms in the light of the “many failings and blindness that came together at Deepcut 20 years ago”. | Their legacy, he said, was that their fight had been the “spur” for the army to drive through reforms in the light of the “many failings and blindness that came together at Deepcut 20 years ago”. |
| Her father said the family was “deeply saddened” by the conclusions of the Deepcut inquest and that they do “not believe the evidence led to this verdict”. Deepcut was a “toxic and horrible place for a young woman and we have no doubt this would have had a terrible impact on those that were required to live in it”, he said. | Her father said the family was “deeply saddened” by the conclusions of the Deepcut inquest and that they do “not believe the evidence led to this verdict”. Deepcut was a “toxic and horrible place for a young woman and we have no doubt this would have had a terrible impact on those that were required to live in it”, he said. |
| The inquest “suffered terribly from being 20 years too late” and there were “serious and inexplicable omissions”. From the start Surrey police and the MoD had embarked on a “reputation management and damage limitation” exercise he said. | |
| Recording a verdict of suicide, Barker said the barracks had created a “dangerous situation and provided the opportunity for her to take her life. That is lone armed-guard duty.” | Recording a verdict of suicide, Barker said the barracks had created a “dangerous situation and provided the opportunity for her to take her life. That is lone armed-guard duty.” |
| He added: “Ms James should not have been on armed guard duty alone. Moreover, the failure sits within the wider context of the army at the time neither recognising, nor taking any steps to reduce, the potential risk of trainees using their service weapons against themselves.” | He added: “Ms James should not have been on armed guard duty alone. Moreover, the failure sits within the wider context of the army at the time neither recognising, nor taking any steps to reduce, the potential risk of trainees using their service weapons against themselves.” |
| Related: Deepcut: 20-year journey to seek truth behind Cheryl James death | Related: Deepcut: 20-year journey to seek truth behind Cheryl James death |
| Barker said there was no evidence that James had been unlawfully killed. | Barker said there was no evidence that James had been unlawfully killed. |
| There was no evidence James had been sexually abused, the “target for outright bullying” or that she had anything other than “consensual” sexual relationships while at Deepcut, said Barker. | There was no evidence James had been sexually abused, the “target for outright bullying” or that she had anything other than “consensual” sexual relationships while at Deepcut, said Barker. |
| One “egregious” allegation by one individual that she had been ordered by a senior officer to have sex with another private shortly before her death, was “wholly without foundation”, he said. Even to her closest friends, she did not present at the time to be in crisis, Barker added. | One “egregious” allegation by one individual that she had been ordered by a senior officer to have sex with another private shortly before her death, was “wholly without foundation”, he said. Even to her closest friends, she did not present at the time to be in crisis, Barker added. |
| The inquest at Woking, which heard from 109 witnesses, was held after the high court quashed an open verdict recorded at her first inquest, which lasted one hour and was held three weeks after her death, for reasons of “insufficiency of inquiry”. | The inquest at Woking, which heard from 109 witnesses, was held after the high court quashed an open verdict recorded at her first inquest, which lasted one hour and was held three weeks after her death, for reasons of “insufficiency of inquiry”. |
| It came after a long campaign by her family, supported by the human rights organisation Liberty, for a full, thorough and transparent inquiry into the death of the “bubbly” recruit, who celebrated her 18th birthday less than a month before her death. | It came after a long campaign by her family, supported by the human rights organisation Liberty, for a full, thorough and transparent inquiry into the death of the “bubbly” recruit, who celebrated her 18th birthday less than a month before her death. |
| An assumption of suicide meant vital forensic and ballistics tests were not conducted and crucial items such as the bullet fragments and her clothing were not retained. It was “highly regrettable” that a more thorough police investigation had not been carried out at the time, the coroner said. | An assumption of suicide meant vital forensic and ballistics tests were not conducted and crucial items such as the bullet fragments and her clothing were not retained. It was “highly regrettable” that a more thorough police investigation had not been carried out at the time, the coroner said. |
| Surrey police previously apologised for not taking primacy of the case, instead handing it over to the military’s special investigation branch. But, Barker said: “Missing parts of the jigsaw are just that – missing.” | Surrey police previously apologised for not taking primacy of the case, instead handing it over to the military’s special investigation branch. But, Barker said: “Missing parts of the jigsaw are just that – missing.” |
| The army, too, had acknowledged failings at Deepcut, he said. There was a “wholesale lack of awareness” at the Surrey barracks that it was against army regulations at the time for females to be on lone guard duty, Barker said. “It seems to me that lone armed guard duty is a potentially dangerous activity,” he said. But it was a “regular occurrence” at Deepcut at the time. | The army, too, had acknowledged failings at Deepcut, he said. There was a “wholesale lack of awareness” at the Surrey barracks that it was against army regulations at the time for females to be on lone guard duty, Barker said. “It seems to me that lone armed guard duty is a potentially dangerous activity,” he said. But it was a “regular occurrence” at Deepcut at the time. |
| He added that the “potential risk of a weapon provided to trainees on lone guard duty being used to harm that trainee either by their actions or the actions of others should have been recognised before Miss James’s death”. | He added that the “potential risk of a weapon provided to trainees on lone guard duty being used to harm that trainee either by their actions or the actions of others should have been recognised before Miss James’s death”. |
| Even after the death of Sean Benton, who five months earlier had died from gun shot wound while on guard duty at Deepcut, the army still had not considered the risk of trainees on armed guard from self-harm or the risk of arming the young and immature. | Even after the death of Sean Benton, who five months earlier had died from gun shot wound while on guard duty at Deepcut, the army still had not considered the risk of trainees on armed guard from self-harm or the risk of arming the young and immature. |
| Deepcut barracks had also failed in its duty of care to its young recruits, he said, and the “haphazard provision of welfare support was insufficient”. There were 400 trainees, 100 of them women in James’s B Squadron, and the ratio of supervising officers to trainees of 1:80 or even as high as 1:200 at times. | Deepcut barracks had also failed in its duty of care to its young recruits, he said, and the “haphazard provision of welfare support was insufficient”. There were 400 trainees, 100 of them women in James’s B Squadron, and the ratio of supervising officers to trainees of 1:80 or even as high as 1:200 at times. |
| James was trying to choose between two boyfriends shortly before her death, one Sapper Simeon “Jim” Carr-Minns, 19, and the other Pte Paul Wilkinson, 17. She had been labelled a “slag” by one fellow recruit, but did not seem overly upset by it. | |
| The inquest heard Wilkinson had visited her at the gate she was guarding immediately prior her death when he gave her an ultimatum to choose between them. | The inquest heard Wilkinson had visited her at the gate she was guarding immediately prior her death when he gave her an ultimatum to choose between them. |
| The coroner said there was no evidence either of her boyfriends had caused or contributed to James’s death. | The coroner said there was no evidence either of her boyfriends had caused or contributed to James’s death. |
| “Sexual relationships between trainees at Deepcut were commonplace and there was a sexualised atmosphere at Deepcut,” said Barker. But there was no basis in the evidence for any suggestion that the army or Deepcut regime in any way sexualised her [James] ”. She had “sexual confidence” and was not naïve, he said. | |
| Sexual fraternisation between superior officers did take place, despite regulations, which was “unacceptable” and an “abuse of power”, said the coroner. | Sexual fraternisation between superior officers did take place, despite regulations, which was “unacceptable” and an “abuse of power”, said the coroner. |
| Young people drinking alcohol was “not a phenomenon peculiar to the army” but there was evidence of “alcohol-induced poor behaviour” at Deepcut, with “block parties” in empty accommodation blocks a feature of trainee life. Drinking had “formed a significant part” of James’s weekend events before her death, though no alcohol was found in her body after death. | Young people drinking alcohol was “not a phenomenon peculiar to the army” but there was evidence of “alcohol-induced poor behaviour” at Deepcut, with “block parties” in empty accommodation blocks a feature of trainee life. Drinking had “formed a significant part” of James’s weekend events before her death, though no alcohol was found in her body after death. |
| The coroner stressed the inquest was not and could not be a public inquiry into the regime at Deepcut in the 1990s, which was “far below the expected standard” and had only examined events relevant to her death. | The coroner stressed the inquest was not and could not be a public inquiry into the regime at Deepcut in the 1990s, which was “far below the expected standard” and had only examined events relevant to her death. |
| Diane Gray, the mother of Pte Geoff Gray, said she would apply for the verdict on her son’s death to be overturned. Gray was 17 when he was found dead from two gunshot wounds at the base in September 2001. Ptes Benton and James Collinson also died at Deepcut between 1995 and 2002. | Diane Gray, the mother of Pte Geoff Gray, said she would apply for the verdict on her son’s death to be overturned. Gray was 17 when he was found dead from two gunshot wounds at the base in September 2001. Ptes Benton and James Collinson also died at Deepcut between 1995 and 2002. |
| Related: Deepcut inquest: armed and alone in an 'out of control' barracks | Related: Deepcut inquest: armed and alone in an 'out of control' barracks |
| Speaking outside the coroner’s court, Gray said: “This case opens the doors for the other families to find out what happened to their children by having a new inquest. In the next few weeks, we will be putting our application forward to the attorney general to ask him to overturn our original verdict and look into new evidence and hopefully give us a new inquest.” | Speaking outside the coroner’s court, Gray said: “This case opens the doors for the other families to find out what happened to their children by having a new inquest. In the next few weeks, we will be putting our application forward to the attorney general to ask him to overturn our original verdict and look into new evidence and hopefully give us a new inquest.” |
| She said the inquest into James had been an “awful” experience, and she felt “so sorry” for the soldier’s parents. “We shouldn’t have had to go through this,” she said. “We should have known this from the very beginning, what happened to the children. We shouldn’t have to find out through ways like this. | She said the inquest into James had been an “awful” experience, and she felt “so sorry” for the soldier’s parents. “We shouldn’t have had to go through this,” she said. “We should have known this from the very beginning, what happened to the children. We shouldn’t have to find out through ways like this. |
| “All we asked for was the truth of what happened in the very beginning and that’s what we should have been told from the police, not to find out things like this when you get to court.” | “All we asked for was the truth of what happened in the very beginning and that’s what we should have been told from the police, not to find out things like this when you get to court.” |
| The army repeated its apology to James’s family and said it wanted to be a “beacon” for equality. Brig John Donnelly, head of personal services, said after the verdict: “We are truly sorry for the low levels of supervision that we provided for the trainees at Deepcut in 1995, and for the policies that were applied to using trainees for guard duties, and that we took too long to recognise and rectify the situation.” | The army repeated its apology to James’s family and said it wanted to be a “beacon” for equality. Brig John Donnelly, head of personal services, said after the verdict: “We are truly sorry for the low levels of supervision that we provided for the trainees at Deepcut in 1995, and for the policies that were applied to using trainees for guard duties, and that we took too long to recognise and rectify the situation.” |
| He paid tribute to the dignity of her family and friends and the “courage, fortitude and generosity” of her father. The army had made “profound changes” since 1995 and would study the coroner’s conclusions “carefully”. | He paid tribute to the dignity of her family and friends and the “courage, fortitude and generosity” of her father. The army had made “profound changes” since 1995 and would study the coroner’s conclusions “carefully”. |
| Surrey police force said it accepted “mistakes were made” in the original investigation into James’s death. But it insisted her death had now been the subject of a thorough investigation. | Surrey police force said it accepted “mistakes were made” in the original investigation into James’s death. But it insisted her death had now been the subject of a thorough investigation. |
| As DS Adam Hibbert delivered the prepared statement on the steps outside Woking coroner’s court he was met with a shout of “liar”. | As DS Adam Hibbert delivered the prepared statement on the steps outside Woking coroner’s court he was met with a shout of “liar”. |
| Hibbert said: “Surrey police has long accepted that mistakes were made in this investigation. The force should have maintained primacy for it, and has previously apologised to the family for those errors. Today we would like to reiterate those apologies. | Hibbert said: “Surrey police has long accepted that mistakes were made in this investigation. The force should have maintained primacy for it, and has previously apologised to the family for those errors. Today we would like to reiterate those apologies. |
| “The evidence has now been thoroughly examined throughout the new inquest today, and our thoughts are with Ms James’ family and her friends. We hope they can take time to reflect upon the coroner’s verdict. | “The evidence has now been thoroughly examined throughout the new inquest today, and our thoughts are with Ms James’ family and her friends. We hope they can take time to reflect upon the coroner’s verdict. |
| “We are also acutely aware that today’s findings will be relevant to the families of the other three young soldiers who died in Deepcut barracks between 1995 and 2002. I would like to take this opportunity reassure them that we will fully support any need for disclosure for any future potential coronial processes.” | “We are also acutely aware that today’s findings will be relevant to the families of the other three young soldiers who died in Deepcut barracks between 1995 and 2002. I would like to take this opportunity reassure them that we will fully support any need for disclosure for any future potential coronial processes.” |
| The James family were scathing of the police approach to the inquest, saying it appeared they had tried to “unashamedly pursue a suicide verdict”. Mr James said: “My wife and I were made to feel as though we were on trial and we felt as though our family was undermined at every opportunity.” | The James family were scathing of the police approach to the inquest, saying it appeared they had tried to “unashamedly pursue a suicide verdict”. Mr James said: “My wife and I were made to feel as though we were on trial and we felt as though our family was undermined at every opportunity.” |
| He added: “Despite Surrey Police’s best efforts, the very serious shortcomings in their investigation into Cheryl’s death were revealed ... The military were allowed to investigate the matter for themselves and they failed to take even the most basic steps to preserve the scene, retain forensic evidence or conduct any form of independent inquiry into a sudden death. | He added: “Despite Surrey Police’s best efforts, the very serious shortcomings in their investigation into Cheryl’s death were revealed ... The military were allowed to investigate the matter for themselves and they failed to take even the most basic steps to preserve the scene, retain forensic evidence or conduct any form of independent inquiry into a sudden death. |
| “These very profound failures in many ways explain why we are still here 20 years later.” | “These very profound failures in many ways explain why we are still here 20 years later.” |