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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Deepcut: Fresh inquest allowed into Pte Sean Benton's death | Deepcut: Fresh inquest allowed into Pte Sean Benton's death |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A fresh inquest can take place into the death of a young soldier at an army barracks in Surrey 21 years ago, a high court judge has ruled. | A fresh inquest can take place into the death of a young soldier at an army barracks in Surrey 21 years ago, a high court judge has ruled. |
| Pte Sean Benton, 20, from Hastings, was found with five bullet wounds to his chest in June 1995 while undergoing training at Deepcut. | |
| An original inquest into his death recorded a verdict of suicide. | An original inquest into his death recorded a verdict of suicide. |
| His family applied for a new hearing after using the Human Rights Act to access evidence held by police. | His family applied for a new hearing after using the Human Rights Act to access evidence held by police. |
| His twin, Tony Benton, and sister, Tracy Lewis, wept and said: "We are just happy and relieved. It's been too long." | His twin, Tony Benton, and sister, Tracy Lewis, wept and said: "We are just happy and relieved. It's been too long." |
| Justice Collins said fresh evidence had "come to light which casts some doubt upon the correctness" of the original decision. | Justice Collins said fresh evidence had "come to light which casts some doubt upon the correctness" of the original decision. |
| He added that under article two of the Human Rights Act there was material that questioned the care Pte Benton received from the army at the time. | He added that under article two of the Human Rights Act there was material that questioned the care Pte Benton received from the army at the time. |
| 'Tormented' | 'Tormented' |
| Mrs Lewis said: "Our family had just 20 years with Sean. It has taken us another 21 to secure the thorough, independent inquiry we should have seen immediately after his death." | Mrs Lewis said: "Our family had just 20 years with Sean. It has taken us another 21 to secure the thorough, independent inquiry we should have seen immediately after his death." |
| "For two decades, our family has been tormented by questions about what Sean went through at Deepcut," she added. | "For two decades, our family has been tormented by questions about what Sean went through at Deepcut," she added. |
| "If his death had been properly investigated in 1995, we would have been spared years of uncertainty and pain. | "If his death had been properly investigated in 1995, we would have been spared years of uncertainty and pain. |
| "It should be a source of huge shame to the Ministry of Defence and Surrey Police that our mother had to fight for so long - far longer than she should have had to - to force the authorities to answer basic questions." | "It should be a source of huge shame to the Ministry of Defence and Surrey Police that our mother had to fight for so long - far longer than she should have had to - to force the authorities to answer basic questions." |
| Severe bullying | |
| The family said the original inquest took less than two hours and heard from six people. A criminal investigation seven years later found no evidence of third party involvement. | |
| Pte Benton's medical records were not obtained and no evidence was gathered or presented about his experiences at the base. | |
| The family, who are represented by human rights group Liberty, believe he was subjected to severe bullying. |