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| Pte Sean Benton: Deepcut hearing 'not an inquiry into Army' | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A coroner holding a fresh inquest into the death of a young soldier at Deepcut barracks 23 years ago has said it is "not an inquiry into the Army". | |
| Pte Sean Benton, 20, from Hastings, was found with five gunshot wounds to his chest at the Surrey army base in 1995. | Pte Sean Benton, 20, from Hastings, was found with five gunshot wounds to his chest at the Surrey army base in 1995. |
| He was the first of four young recruits to die between 1995 and 2002, with his death originally recorded as suicide. | |
| Delivering his conclusions, Coroner Judge Peter Rook QC said morale among trainees at Deepcut was "very low". | |
| The inquest has heard evidence from more than 170 witnesses since it began in January at Woking Coroner's Court. | |
| It was ordered after a family campaign, amid allegations of prolonged bullying at the base. | |
| Mr Rook is expected to spend up to five hours delivering his conclusions. | |
| Pte Benton's sister Tracy Lewis, who is attending Wednesday's hearing with the soldier's twin brother Tony, has said throughout the inquest that she wants to hear the truth. | |
| They have both fought for years for a full investigation into the case. | They have both fought for years for a full investigation into the case. |
| Their mother Linda, who also fought to see evidence about the circumstances of her son's death, died in 2015. Their father died four years earlier. | Their mother Linda, who also fought to see evidence about the circumstances of her son's death, died in 2015. Their father died four years earlier. |
| Live: More updates on Deepcut inquest | Live: More updates on Deepcut inquest |
| In January, Mr Rook said the scope of the first inquest in 1995 had been "limited" and by engaging Article Two of the Human Rights Act, he had enabled a "broader" inquiry. | |
| Referring to the siblings' campaign as he opened the hearing, Mr Rook said: "Their parents have good reason to be proud of all their children." | Referring to the siblings' campaign as he opened the hearing, Mr Rook said: "Their parents have good reason to be proud of all their children." |
| Speaking about the "evidential difficulties" of investigating a death 23 years ago, he said "such a long passage of time inevitably poses difficulties", and that "many forensic opportunities" had been lost. | Speaking about the "evidential difficulties" of investigating a death 23 years ago, he said "such a long passage of time inevitably poses difficulties", and that "many forensic opportunities" had been lost. |
| "Memories fade with time," he added. | "Memories fade with time," he added. |
| The inquest has heard claims of bullying and harassment at the base - at one stage, Pte Benton confided in his sister he had been "shackled" and made to parade around the canteen. | The inquest has heard claims of bullying and harassment at the base - at one stage, Pte Benton confided in his sister he had been "shackled" and made to parade around the canteen. |
| Fellow recruits described Deepcut as an "oppressive place" with claims that "beasting" was taking place, along with humiliating punishments and physical and mental abuse. | Fellow recruits described Deepcut as an "oppressive place" with claims that "beasting" was taking place, along with humiliating punishments and physical and mental abuse. |
| Speaking on Wednesday, the coroner said the inquest was "not an inquiry into the Army at the time" of Pte Benton's death, which he said came during a "period of change for the military following the fall of the Berlin Wall". | Speaking on Wednesday, the coroner said the inquest was "not an inquiry into the Army at the time" of Pte Benton's death, which he said came during a "period of change for the military following the fall of the Berlin Wall". |
| He said Deepcut was used to hold "soldiers awaiting training" following the restructuring of the Royal Logistic Corps (RLC), and provided induction, administration and some military skills. | He said Deepcut was used to hold "soldiers awaiting training" following the restructuring of the Royal Logistic Corps (RLC), and provided induction, administration and some military skills. |
| However, the ratio between instructor and trainee was "a constant concern", and there were "not enough staff to keep the trainees properly occupied". | However, the ratio between instructor and trainee was "a constant concern", and there were "not enough staff to keep the trainees properly occupied". |
| He told the court that numerous former trainees had given evidence that their time at Deepcut was "awful", and it was "clear that morale was very low". | He told the court that numerous former trainees had given evidence that their time at Deepcut was "awful", and it was "clear that morale was very low". |
| The inquest heard Pte Benton had died shortly after being told he was going to be discharged. | The inquest heard Pte Benton had died shortly after being told he was going to be discharged. |
| A note found after his death had said: "I just want a career in the army." | A note found after his death had said: "I just want a career in the army." |
| Shortly after the inquest began, the Army apologised to Pte Benton's family and said there were "a number of things that could and should have been better". | Shortly after the inquest began, the Army apologised to Pte Benton's family and said there were "a number of things that could and should have been better". |