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SAS selections inquest: Soldier found 'with rigor mortis' | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
One of the three soldiers who died during an SAS reservist selection hike had rigor mortis by the time he was found, an inquest has heard. | |
L/Cpl Craig Roberts, 24, died during a Brecon Beacons march on one of the hottest days of the year in July 2013. | L/Cpl Craig Roberts, 24, died during a Brecon Beacons march on one of the hottest days of the year in July 2013. |
L/Cpl Edward Maher and Cpl James Dunsby also died after collapsing while attempting the same exercise. | |
On Friday, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) also admitted its searching of bins at the inquest was "unacceptable". | |
Louise Hunt, senior coroner for Birmingham, has been hearing evidence relating to the deaths of the three soldiers, in Solihull, West Midlands, since 1 June. | Louise Hunt, senior coroner for Birmingham, has been hearing evidence relating to the deaths of the three soldiers, in Solihull, West Midlands, since 1 June. |
'Hadn't noticed' | |
An officer in charge of the SAS reservist selection process on 13 July said he had not spotted L/Cpl Maher was no longer moving for at least 44 minutes. | |
This was because he had not "hovered the mouse (cursor)" over the reservist's GPS tracker, while monitoring participants' movements on a computer. | |
Doing so would have presented detailed information on his route times and distance travelled, he told the inquest. | |
The coroner said: "It is quite difficult for me to understand how you wouldn't notice. | |
"When Edward was found, there were signs that he was already developing rigor mortis." | |
The officer replied: "At the time, I hadn't noticed that that tracker was static." | |
Earlier on Friday, David Turner QC - representing Cpl Dunsby's widow, Bryher Dunsby - said her confidence in the legal process had been "severely shaken" by revelations about the MoD's conduct during the hearing. | |
"The MoD has been going through confidential waste bins in the building," he said. | "The MoD has been going through confidential waste bins in the building," he said. |
'Security arrangement' | |
Mr Turner said Cpl Dunsby's family were "extremely upset" by the MoD's actions. | Mr Turner said Cpl Dunsby's family were "extremely upset" by the MoD's actions. |
Jonathan Hall QC, for the MoD, accepted his clients had sifted through waste bins and agreed it was "unacceptable". | |
"It had to do with the security arrangement - we're dealing with documents at a very high classification... it was in order to secure those documents... but it was done in a way that was not correct. | "It had to do with the security arrangement - we're dealing with documents at a very high classification... it was in order to secure those documents... but it was done in a way that was not correct. |
"I do want to reassure you publicly that this was not a sinister development," he told the coroner. | "I do want to reassure you publicly that this was not a sinister development," he told the coroner. |
The coroner said there may have been no sinister intent, but the practice could affect perceptions about the hearing. | The coroner said there may have been no sinister intent, but the practice could affect perceptions about the hearing. |
"This is to be an open and transparent inquest. Whatever the outcome, these families should go away thinking... they've heard the answers," she added. | "This is to be an open and transparent inquest. Whatever the outcome, these families should go away thinking... they've heard the answers," she added. |
The coroner said she was "perturbed" a witness had been referring to documents in the witness box without her knowledge - something she has now banned. | The coroner said she was "perturbed" a witness had been referring to documents in the witness box without her knowledge - something she has now banned. |
L/Cpl Roberts, from Penrhyn Bay, Conwy, and L/Cpl Maher, 31, died on 13 July 2013. Cpl James Dunsby, from Bath, died later in hospital. | L/Cpl Roberts, from Penrhyn Bay, Conwy, and L/Cpl Maher, 31, died on 13 July 2013. Cpl James Dunsby, from Bath, died later in hospital. |
On Thursday, the coroner was told the selection exercise had no medics or instructors for "over an hour" at one of the checkpoints. | On Thursday, the coroner was told the selection exercise had no medics or instructors for "over an hour" at one of the checkpoints. |
The inquest continues. | The inquest continues. |