This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-44860108
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| Pte Sean Benton: Deepcut soldier's death was suicide, coroner rules | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The death of a young soldier at Deepcut barracks 23 years ago was suicide, a coroner has ruled after a new inquest. | |
| 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. | He was the first of four young recruits to die between 1995 and 2002, with his death originally recorded as suicide. |
| Delivering his conclusions at Woking Coroner's Court, Judge Peter Rook QC said three suicide notes were found after his death. | |
| "I'm satisfied that the fatal wounds were self inflicted," he said. | |
| He said the first round injured the soldier, but that a second round - fired by Pte Benton when two officers arrived at the scene - proved fatal. | |
| Notes to his friends and family were found afterwards. | |
| The inquest has heard evidence from more than 170 witnesses since it began in January. | |
| It was ordered following a family campaign, amid allegations of prolonged bullying at the base. | It was ordered following a family campaign, amid allegations of prolonged bullying at the base. |
| Pte Benton's sister Tracy Lewis, was at the hearing with the soldier's twin brother Tony. They and their family have fought for years for a full investigation into the case. | |
| 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". |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 the ratio between instructor and trainee at Deepcut 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". |
| Exploring Pte Benton's early life, the coroner repeated evidence of how as a teenager in 1991 he twice took drugs overdoses after rowing over the tidiness of his bedroom. | Exploring Pte Benton's early life, the coroner repeated evidence of how as a teenager in 1991 he twice took drugs overdoses after rowing over the tidiness of his bedroom. |
| The court heard he was not deemed to have any deep-rooted psychiatric issues. | The court heard he was not deemed to have any deep-rooted psychiatric issues. |
| 'Boring and repetitive' | 'Boring and repetitive' |
| Mr Rook went on to tell the hearing of how during his time at the barracks witnesses observed a shift in Pte Benton's demeanour, with the common theme being "he was not as bubbly as he used to be". | Mr Rook went on to tell the hearing of how during his time at the barracks witnesses observed a shift in Pte Benton's demeanour, with the common theme being "he was not as bubbly as he used to be". |
| During a three-month warning period, he took an Anadin overdose, and it was "notable" a psychiatric assessment did not trigger a full review, he said. | During a three-month warning period, he took an Anadin overdose, and it was "notable" a psychiatric assessment did not trigger a full review, he said. |
| Pte Benton's mother also remarked to police that he phoned home less often and had described Deepcut as "boring and repetitive". | Pte Benton's mother also remarked to police that he phoned home less often and had described Deepcut as "boring and repetitive". |
| However, he denied being bullied when asked by her in the month before he died, Mr Rook said. | However, he denied being bullied when asked by her in the month before he died, Mr Rook said. |
| He said there was "no doubt" Pte Benton was "on the receiving end" of punishments by senior officers, describing "a toxic culture". | He said there was "no doubt" Pte Benton was "on the receiving end" of punishments by senior officers, describing "a toxic culture". |
| The conduct of Sgt Andrew Gavaghan - one of Pte Benton's instructors - was key in the investigation into his death, Mr Rook said. | The conduct of Sgt Andrew Gavaghan - one of Pte Benton's instructors - was key in the investigation into his death, Mr Rook said. |
| He had an alter ego and was prone to changes in temper, and the inquest had previously heard accounts of physical and verbal abuse by him. | He had an alter ego and was prone to changes in temper, and the inquest had previously heard accounts of physical and verbal abuse by him. |
| He said at times Sgt Gavaghan "did lose control of himself", but not all witnesses spoke ill of him. | He said at times Sgt Gavaghan "did lose control of himself", but not all witnesses spoke ill of him. |
| "But a closer check should have been made on Sgt Gavaghan's [treatment] of the trainees. | "But a closer check should have been made on Sgt Gavaghan's [treatment] of the trainees. |
| "It's clear this lack of appropriate monitoring contributed to his abuse of authority," Mr Rook said. | "It's clear this lack of appropriate monitoring contributed to his abuse of authority," Mr Rook said. |
| However, he stressed: "This is an inquest, not a trial of Sgt Gavaghan." | However, he stressed: "This is an inquest, not a trial of Sgt Gavaghan." |
| Sgt Gavaghan has denied allegations of abusive behaviour. | Sgt Gavaghan has denied allegations of abusive behaviour. |