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| Wakefield crash death soldier inquest in Cyprus 'soul destroying' | Wakefield crash death soldier inquest in Cyprus 'soul destroying' |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Sally Oxley said she was still "haunted" by the final hours of her husband's life in hospital | Sally Oxley said she was still "haunted" by the final hours of her husband's life in hospital |
| The widow of a British soldier killed in a crash at an RAF base in Cyprus has called for the American driver involved to "come clean and tell the truth". | The widow of a British soldier killed in a crash at an RAF base in Cyprus has called for the American driver involved to "come clean and tell the truth". |
| Colour Sgt Anthony Oxley died after he was hit by a car driven by a US serviceman on 14 June 2016. | Colour Sgt Anthony Oxley died after he was hit by a car driven by a US serviceman on 14 June 2016. |
| Sally Oxley said attending an inquest in Cyprus on the eve of the seventh anniversary of his death was "soul destroying". | Sally Oxley said attending an inquest in Cyprus on the eve of the seventh anniversary of his death was "soul destroying". |
| The US Air Force said the driver was "not charged with any crimes". | The US Air Force said the driver was "not charged with any crimes". |
| Colour Sgt Oxley, 40, from Ryhill, near Wakefield, had been riding a motorbike while on base at RAF Akrotiri when he was struck. | Colour Sgt Oxley, 40, from Ryhill, near Wakefield, had been riding a motorbike while on base at RAF Akrotiri when he was struck. |
| He died later in a Cypriot hospital outside the airbase. As a result, an inquest hearing into his death was held on Tuesday but adjourned until September. | |
| A British inquest in Wakefield in February 2018 recorded a narrative verdict and found the cause of death was head injuries as a result of a road traffic collision. | A British inquest in Wakefield in February 2018 recorded a narrative verdict and found the cause of death was head injuries as a result of a road traffic collision. |
| A decorated soldier, Colour Sgt Oxley was a drum major but had also fought in four wars including Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan | A decorated soldier, Colour Sgt Oxley was a drum major but had also fought in four wars including Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan |
| The US Air Force took charge of the crash investigation and few details were made public. | The US Air Force took charge of the crash investigation and few details were made public. |
| However, Mrs Oxley, who has since been pushing for a new inquest, said there was evidence showing the driver had suddenly taken a right-hand turn on the wrong side of the road, cutting the junction in front of her husband. | However, Mrs Oxley, who has since been pushing for a new inquest, said there was evidence showing the driver had suddenly taken a right-hand turn on the wrong side of the road, cutting the junction in front of her husband. |
| The 45-year-old, who lives near Barnsley, believes the US and UK authorities had "failed" to disclose information regarding the crash, with evidence contradicting that of the US account. | The 45-year-old, who lives near Barnsley, believes the US and UK authorities had "failed" to disclose information regarding the crash, with evidence contradicting that of the US account. |
| "This man has stripped my daughter of her father and a very, very good father and a good man. This has got to stop, this needs an end to it and the only way that's going to happen is [for him to] come clean and tell the truth," said Mrs Oxley. | "This man has stripped my daughter of her father and a very, very good father and a good man. This has got to stop, this needs an end to it and the only way that's going to happen is [for him to] come clean and tell the truth," said Mrs Oxley. |
| "I don't want to be in Cyprus but I've got to be there, the day before his anniversary. | "I don't want to be in Cyprus but I've got to be there, the day before his anniversary. |
| "It's soul destroying but I have to be there. I have to go. I need to make sure that my husband gets justice." | "It's soul destroying but I have to be there. I have to go. I need to make sure that my husband gets justice." |
| Skid marks show the driver had made a sudden right-turn on the wrong side of the road, Mrs Oxley said | Skid marks show the driver had made a sudden right-turn on the wrong side of the road, Mrs Oxley said |
| Colour Sgt Oxley's damaged motorbike following the crash on 14 June 2016 | Colour Sgt Oxley's damaged motorbike following the crash on 14 June 2016 |
| This latest inquest in Cyprus is the second in under two years, both conducted by the Cypriot government. | This latest inquest in Cyprus is the second in under two years, both conducted by the Cypriot government. |
| The first was adjourned last year after Mrs Oxley was given a file containing witness statements an hour before the hearing was due to start. | The first was adjourned last year after Mrs Oxley was given a file containing witness statements an hour before the hearing was due to start. |
| "You can't hide the truth and the facts without it going to surface at some point and it's now surfaced," she said. | "You can't hide the truth and the facts without it going to surface at some point and it's now surfaced," she said. |
| "It's appalling. It's absolutely disgusting what they have done to this family. | "It's appalling. It's absolutely disgusting what they have done to this family. |
| "First of all my husband served for 21 years for this country. He wasn't just a name, rank and number. He's got medals and medals. That means nothing to any of them, but it does to us. | "First of all my husband served for 21 years for this country. He wasn't just a name, rank and number. He's got medals and medals. That means nothing to any of them, but it does to us. |
| "Shame on them." | "Shame on them." |
| Sally Oxley paid tribute to a "kind, caring and very hard working" soldier who was "very family orientated" | Sally Oxley paid tribute to a "kind, caring and very hard working" soldier who was "very family orientated" |
| Mrs Oxley's solicitor Christopher Stanley has been working pro-bono to help the widow. He said they were still awaiting a decision from the Attorney General three months after submitting an application for a fresh UK inquest. | Mrs Oxley's solicitor Christopher Stanley has been working pro-bono to help the widow. He said they were still awaiting a decision from the Attorney General three months after submitting an application for a fresh UK inquest. |
| "We will be chasing them again and if necessary, be putting out a pre-action letter to say you've got to make a decision one way or the other." | "We will be chasing them again and if necessary, be putting out a pre-action letter to say you've got to make a decision one way or the other." |
| Mr Stanley said if their application was refused they "may consider challenging the decision". | Mr Stanley said if their application was refused they "may consider challenging the decision". |
| In a statement, the US Air Force said: "US Forces assumed authority for the investigation in coordination with UK officials and in line with the UK Visiting Forces Act. | In a statement, the US Air Force said: "US Forces assumed authority for the investigation in coordination with UK officials and in line with the UK Visiting Forces Act. |
| "At the conclusion of the investigation, the US service member was not charged with any crimes due to the nature of the vehicle accident." | "At the conclusion of the investigation, the US service member was not charged with any crimes due to the nature of the vehicle accident." |
| The Ministry of Defence said: "Our thoughts remain with Sgt Oxley's family and we continue to offer support to them during this difficult time. | The Ministry of Defence said: "Our thoughts remain with Sgt Oxley's family and we continue to offer support to them during this difficult time. |
| "It would be inappropriate to comment while the inquest is ongoing." | "It would be inappropriate to comment while the inquest is ongoing." |
| The Attorney General's Office has been approached for a comment. | The Attorney General's Office has been approached for a comment. |
| Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Cyprus | Cyprus |
| US Armed Forces | US Armed Forces |
| Ministry of Defence | Ministry of Defence |
| Wakefield | Wakefield |