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UK female soldier inquest resumes UK female soldier inquest resumes
(about 2 hours later)
An inquest is beginning into the death of the only British female soldier killed in Afghanistan. An inquest has begun into the deaths of four UK soldiers, including the only UK female soldier to die in Afghanistan.
Cpl Sarah Bryant, 26, of Cumbria, died while on patrol in June 2008 with three SAS reservists - Cpl Sean Reeve, L/Cpl Richard Larkin and Paul Stout. Cpl Sarah Bryant, 26, of Cumbria, died while on patrol in June 2008 with three SAS reservists - Cpl Sean Reeve, L/Cpl Richard Larkin and Pte Paul Stout.
They were travelling in a Snatch Land Rover, a controversial light patrol vehicle still in use in Afghanistan. Coroner David Masters said the six-day inquest would look at their equipment, training and mine detection drills.
At least 37 UK personnel have died in Iraq and Afghanistan while travelling in the lightly-armoured vehicles. The four were in a Snatch Land Rover, a light vehicle in which 37 UK soldiers have died in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Their vulnerability to roadside bombs and other explosives has led some soldiers to call them the "mobile coffin". The lightly-armoured vehicles' vulnerability to roadside bombs and other explosives has led some soldiers to call them the "mobile coffin".
The Snatch is agile but lightly protected and was never designed to take the full force of the blast that killed Cpl Bryant and the other three soldiers. Blunt injuries
Wiltshire and Swindon Coroner David Masters said the inquest would look into the suitability of Snatch Land Rovers for such patrols, the type of metal detectors used and the drills carried out for land mines and roadside bombs.
Mr Masters told the inquest: "The bounds of this inquest should encompass issues relating to the concerns about the suitability of Snatch Land Rovers by reference to their capability and another concern which was expressed about [their] training."
Its rear wheels then at that ditch detonated a massive explosion, causing immediate devastation to the vehicle and in probability the instant deaths of Cpl Bryant, Pte Stout, Cpl Reeve Coroner David Masters
He added: "Another issue that we considered at the pre-inquest hearing relating to the death of L/Cpl Larkin and whether or not a collapsible steering wheel could be fitted."
Post-mortem examinations showed that L/Cpl Larkin had died of blunt injuries to the chest and abdomen following an explosion.
The others died of blast wounds caused by an explosion.
The back wheels of their Land Rover hit a 50kg to 100kg (110lb-220lb) pressure-plated improvised explosive device (IED), or roadside bomb, as they crossed a ditch.
Mr Masters said: "Its rear wheels detonated a massive explosion, causing immediate devastation to the vehicle and in probability the instant deaths of Cpl Bryant, Pte Stout, Cpl Reeve.
"L/Cpl Larkin, the driver, was trapped by the steering wheel in the upturned vehicle and was also found to have died."
'Criminal at worst''Criminal at worst'
The Snatch is agile but lightly protected and was never designed to take the full force of the blast that killed Cpl Bryant and the other three soldiers, says the BBC's Jonathan Beale.
The deaths, in particular that of Sarah Bryant - a young, recently married member of the Intelligence Corps - attracted a lot of media attention at the time.The deaths, in particular that of Sarah Bryant - a young, recently married member of the Intelligence Corps - attracted a lot of media attention at the time.
It also attracted a lot of criticism, with one SAS major resigning his commission in protest. The incident also attracted a lot of criticism, with one SAS major resigning his commission in protest.
Q&A: Snatch Land RoversQ&A: Snatch Land Rovers
Maj Sebastian Morley told the Daily Telegraph at the time that the Ministry of Defence's failure to provide troops with adequate equipment was "cavalier at best, criminal at worst".Maj Sebastian Morley told the Daily Telegraph at the time that the Ministry of Defence's failure to provide troops with adequate equipment was "cavalier at best, criminal at worst".
Concerns about the vehicle were raised as long as go as 2003. The MoD has upgraded the Snatch with improvements to its armour and better electronic counter measures to detect improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Concerns about the vehicle were raised as long ago as 2003.
But that work has yet to be completed. This January the Army started to receive the improved Snatch Vixen Plus but the older models are still in service in Afghanistan. The MoD has upgraded the Snatch with improvements to its armour and better electronic counter-measures to detect makeshift roadside bombs. But that work has yet to be completed.
Col Stuart Tootal, who also resigned his commission in protest at the failures of the MoD to provide the right equipment in Afghanistan, acknowledges there have been a number of improvements to the Army's light patrol vehicle. This January, the Army started to receive the improved Snatch Vixen Plus but the older models are still in service in Afghanistan.
But he says the replacement of the older models has taken "far too long" given that the MoD knew it was "sub-optimal" in 2004. He said it was another example of procurement at the MoD being too sluggish.
There can be no doubt the MoD has taken a number of steps to improve its light patrol vehicle.
But this inquest, at Trowbridge Magistrates Court in Wiltshire on Monday, may once again raise questions as to why it has taken so long.
In a statement, the MoD said its thoughts were with the families of Cpl Bryant, L/Cpl Reeve, L/Cpl Larkin and Pte Stout but it would not comment on ongoing inquest proceedings.In a statement, the MoD said its thoughts were with the families of Cpl Bryant, L/Cpl Reeve, L/Cpl Larkin and Pte Stout but it would not comment on ongoing inquest proceedings.
It added: "We have made clear many times that the safety of our personnel is our top priority and the MoD has spent over £1.3bn since 2006 on new and upgraded vehicles.It added: "We have made clear many times that the safety of our personnel is our top priority and the MoD has spent over £1.3bn since 2006 on new and upgraded vehicles.
"The threat our forces face in Afghanistan has continued to change and we have evolved our protected vehicles to match the threat. Snatch Land Rovers are no longer used in areas of heightened threat from IEDs.""The threat our forces face in Afghanistan has continued to change and we have evolved our protected vehicles to match the threat. Snatch Land Rovers are no longer used in areas of heightened threat from IEDs."