Deepcut Inquest

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Nobody to be charged after six year Deepcut investigation

Nobody will be charged with any offence despite another six year investigation into horrific abuse of young soldiers at the Deepcut army barracks.

A new police probe was promised to families of four young soldiers shot to death at the camp after the second round of inquests ended in 2019.

Despite dozens of allegations during weeks of hearings and new witness statements, police failed to find enough evidence to charge anybody.

Only one former member of staff at the camp has ever been interview ed under caution by police in the 31 years since the first of the Deepcut Four died.

Retired Sgt Quizzed

The retired sergeant in his 70s was questioned for a second time in 2023 - 21 years after he was first quizzed in 2002.

Sgt Andrew Gavaghan was named by many as being involved in incidents at the camp.

Another NCO, Sgt Major Martin Holder was also named by former soldiers.

A group known as the Respirator Gang were also sighted as being involved in late night beatings.

Female recruits told a coroner how they were subjected to vile and abusive treatment in the highly sexualised environment at Deepcut.

In September last year, the Crown Prosecution Service told families; ’No individual would be charged with any offence’.

The Final Deceit

They described the decision not to arrest, charge or prosecute anybody over the years of abuse suffered by recruits as a final deceit.

Weeks of inquest hearings into the deaths at the Surrey camp heard first hand accounts of mental, physical and sexual abuse from traumatised former recruits.

His Honour Judge Peter Rook QC found many of the witnesses who gave evidence at the inquest had been truthful.

A perfect storm of inadequacy and toxicity which few were willing to take responsibility for is how the regime was described over more than 40 court days - with Sgt Andrew Gavaghan always at the centre.

The coroner concluded he physically assaulted at least ten other trainees during his time as a Deepcut troop sergeant.

Punched and Kicked Trainees

“Having heard the witnesses’ accounts and noted similarity with other accounts I am satisfied on the balance of probabilities that Sgt Gavaghan did punch and kick some trainees,” the coroner said.

Sgt Gavaghan was prepared to use physical violence as unrecorded punishment for minor misdemeanours as a form of summary justice, Judge Rook said.

Hundreds of teenage soldiers were left unsupervised with access to drink and guns at Deepcut.

NCOs used excessive and repetitive punishments which went beyond legitimate sanctions, the coroner said.

Nobody Can Be Charged

Six years later, Surrey Police and the Crown Prosecution Service concluded nobody can be charged with any offence.

The young soldiers who died at the camp between 1995 and 2002 became known as the Deepcut Four.

Sean Benton, 20, Cheryl James, 18, Geoff Gray, 17, and James Collinson, 17, all died from gunshot wounds.

New inquests were held into three of their deaths concluded in 2019.

Sean Benton’s parents Harry and Linda died before his new inquest started.

Des, father of Cheryl James, described the decision no to bring any charges was the final deceit after 30 years of campaigning.

He said: “I’m honestly lost for words, but as the years go on, this is the deceit I never seem to forget.

“Surrey police visited our home more than once and said ‘We dropped a clanger’, or words to that effect.

“Craig Denholm, in charge of the ‘re-investigation’ did not tell us, ever, that the original officers who attended the scene on November 27, 1995 only stayed for 40 minutes or so before handing the case over to the Coroner, to be investigated as a suicide.”

Des and wife Doreen have never accepted she took her own life.

“That little piece of information took Doreen and I 21 years to discover at Cheryl’s second Inquest.

We Knew It Was A Cover-Up From The Beginning

“It’s not the only deceit we experienced - but it is the one that stays with me - 30 years later.”

Diane Gray, mother of Geoff, said: “All I can say is it does not surprise me.

“We knew it was a cover-up from the beginning.

“Then when you are allowed sensitive information, but it comes with a gagging order, that tells you everything.”

Yvonne Heath, mum of James Collinson, said: “I’m aware that no charges have been brought and it comes as no surprise.

“Four dead recruits and no one is accountable and they wonder why we are cynical?”

Following the second inquest into the death of Sean Benton In February 2019, Surrey Police said a criminal investigation was underway into a number of allegations.

An initial file for advice was submitted to the CPS in October 2019.

Another file was sent in July 2020.

This month, seven years after their investigation was launched, Surrey Police and the CPS confirmed nobody will be charged.

“Surrey Police was asked to investigate a number of allegations relating to a male suspect at Deepcut Barracks between 1994 and 1997.

“These allegations were subjected to a rigorous and thorough investigation which was carried out by a dedicated team.

“Following this investigation, a substantial file of evidence was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service in July 2020.

“The CPS then undertook a detailed review of the material.

“This was complex and involved significant work and the instruction of counsel.

“Following this review Surrey Police interviewed the suspect under caution in April 2023.

“The CPS then conducted a full code test review in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors, concluding that the evidential stage of the test was not met, and that no individual would be charged with any offence.

“That decision was communicated to all interested parties in September 2025.”

Missed Time Limit

Surrey Police said the time limit to prosecute anybody for common assaults in the 1990s and early 2000s had passed.

“There was no medical or physical evidence available to support any offences of assault due to the time that had passed,” as spokesman said.

The force only investigated allegations of misconduct in public office - the same potential charge facing former Prince Andrew.

“This included reviewing all the evidence, including inquest transcripts and witness evidence from the previous investigations,” a spokesman said.

Statements were taken from new witnesses and witnesses who gave evidence at the inquest were also revisited, the force said.

The only male suspect was interviewed under caution in April 2023.

Frank Ferguson, Head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said: “We were asked to consider allegations of ill-treatment of recruits in relation to a male suspect at Deepcut between 1994 and 1997.

“Following a thorough review of the evidence from Surrey Police and Sussex Police, we have concluded that no criminal charges should be brought.

“Offences of misconduct in public office were considered, but we concluded that our legal test for prosecution was not met.

“We offered to meet with close family members to explain our reasoning in further detail.”

None of the families involved took up the offer to meet with the CPS following their decision not to recommend charges.

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We all heard it at the inquests

Five years on, still no arrests or charges

The second inquest into the death of Pte Geoff Gray concluded in June 2019 when coroner Peter Rook told his parents their 17-year-old boy had taken his own life 18 years before on September 17, 2001.

Geoff’s was the last of a second round of inquests into the deaths by gunshot of four teenage soldiers at the British army training camp near the Surrey village of Deepcut.

Following the hearings which took more than three years to complete, undertakings were given, promises made and a new investigation was launched.

Surrey police announced in early 2019, before Geoff’s inquest, they were taking another look at the conduct of Deepcut officers and opened a dialogue with the Crown Prosecution Service in October the same year.

Three years later, Surrey police confirmed there was no change in the status of their investigation.

No arrests made, no charges brought.

Earlier this week, five years after the last day of Coroners Court hearings in Woking, Surrey police confirmed they sent a file to the CPS last year.

After 18 months, the CPS have not made a decision on whether anybody should be charged and police have still made no arrests.

A spokesman said there is no timeframe for when a decision could be made.

The file was sent around six months after Geoff Gray Snr died from heart failure at his home in Hackney, London.

Diane Gray confirmed the family have had no contact with Surrey police or the CPS since the end of the inquest for Geoff Jnr.

File Submitted

Surrey Police were forced to open a new investigation when witness accounts at the inquests made it obvious they had to.

The second inquest for Cheryl James heard witnesses describe the treatment they suffered at the hands of instructors at Deepcut.

The current investigation was confirmed by Surrey Police after a review of evidence heard during the Sean Benton inquest in 2018.

This week, Surrey police confirmed no arrests have been made in five years despite the multiple witness accounts given under oath during inquest hearings.

A spokesman for the force said: “An initial file for advice was submitted in October 2019.

“Since then we have had regular dialogue with the CPS and can confirm a file for charging was sent to them 18 months ago.”

The CPS confirmed they responded to a complaint over their involvement in the new investigation.

A spokesman said: “We received a file of evidence from Surrey Police following an investigation into allegations of misconduct in a public office.

“We are carefully considering this complex material and cannot provide a timeframe as to when a decision will be made.”

In June next year it will be 30 years since Pte Sean Benton died from self inflicted gunshot wounds at Deepcut after he was the victim of merciless bullying.

The CPS must be satisfied there is sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction and that prosecuting is in the public interest.

Diane Gray said: “There’s easily enough evidence to charge somebody.

“We all heard it at the inquests.”

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No arrests after three years

The investigation into new allegations of assault and misconduct at Deepcut barracks has failed to make an arrest after almost three years.

Surrey Police were forced to open the new investigation when fresh evidence lead to demands from the families of four recruits shot dead at the barracks.

Police announced the probe after the second inquest into the death of a young recruit heard shocking new allegations and former soldiers who served at Deepcut continue to come forward.

Four young soldiers died from gunshot wounds at Deepcut between 1995 and 2002.

During the second round of inquests into their deaths, former soldiers gave first hand accounts of horrendous abuse at the Princess Royal Barracks.

Ongoing

The new investigation was confirmed by Surrey Police in February 2019 following a review after the second inquest into the death of Sean Benton.

His inquest concluded in 2018 and the force announced they had launched a new investigation at the start of the second inquest for Geoff Gray in 2019.

So far, Surrey police have not been able to confirm anybody has been arrested, cautioned or charged since the new investigation launched.

A spokesman for Surrey Police could only say the investigation is still ongoing.

The second round of inquests into three of the deaths were held at the coroner's court in Woking from 2016 to 2019.

During the second Sean Benton inquest, several former soldiers gave evidence about the abuse they suffered at Deepcut.

Sgt Andrew Gavaghan was named by many as being involved in incidents at the camp.

Another NCO, Sgt Major Martin Holder was also named by former soldiers.

A group known as the Respirator Gang were also sighted as being involved in late night beatings.

His Honour Judge Peter Rook QC decided Pte Benton had taken his own life.

The 20-year-old shot himself five times in the chest, the coroner concluded.

Free Pass

Pte Geoff Gray's father Geoff Snr said: "The police investigation should have been wrapped up by now whatever the outcome.

"It would appear that Surrey Police have buried Deepcut for ever."

Des James, whose daughter Cheryl died from gunshot wounds at Deepcut in 1995, said he is still frustrated by the lack of accountability at Surrey Police and the MoD.

"I think the MoD and Surrey Police got a free pass.

"Four kids died in a camp we now know was out of control and just because no evidence turned up at the inquest doesn’t mean there wasn’t any.

"No one was very keen to look for it, of course, given the delay they created.

"All in all, it was never properly bottomed and those kids deserved more.

"Until it is, if ever, the abuse cases continue to appear," Mr James said.

In February 2019, a Surrey Police statement said: "Following the conclusion of the inquest into Private Sean Benton’s death last year, Surrey Police reviewed the findings documented by the Coroner and the Benton family’s request for a new criminal investigation into allegations including assault and misconduct in public office at the Princess Royal Barracks, Deepcut.

"This review was completed and a criminal investigation is underway into a number of allegations.

"As this remains a live investigation, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time."

The force confirmed this week, the investigation is still ongoing.

Former Soldiers Continue to Come Forward

Former soldiers continue to come forward with new allegations.

Deepcut Inquest was approached by a former serviceman who asked not to be named.

He claimed a gun was pointed at him during his time in training at Pirbright.

The former solider said the muzzle of the gun was pressed into his face.

Deepcut Inquest advised him to contact police to help them with their investigation.

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Detective sex whitewash, say family

The parents of a young soldier shot dead at Deepcut accused police of a whitewash after they decided not to discipline a detective who admitted having a sexual relationship with a key witness.

Surrey police will not hold a public hearing after the relationship was revealed at the second inquest into the death of Pte Geoff Gray.

He was shot twice in the head while on guard duty at the controversial British army barracks in 2001.

The second inquest decided he had taken his own life.

Sexual Relationship

During her evidence at the hearings in Woking, DC Jamie Keech admitted being in a sexual relationship with Craig Filmer.

DC Jamie Keech told the inquest she started a relationship with the witness after taking his statement.

The former army corporal was one of the last people to see Pte Gray alive and organised the bungled search for him after he was reported missing.

Pte Gray was the third of four young soldiers to be shot dead at Deepcut between 1995 and 2002.

Surrey police confirmed DC Keech is still serving as a detective with the force.

His parents said they are considering a complaint to the police watchdog.

Surrey Police confirmed they were looking into the conduct of DC Keech following several days of dramatic evidence at the inquest at Woking in April this year.

Appropriate Action

In a statement released to the Gray family last week, Surrey police said the matter was being dealt with administratively after a review by the force Professional Standards Department.

“This matter was at a level which could be dealt with appropriately through management action with the officer involved," Surrey police said.

Dad Geoff Gray branded the statement as a whitewash.

“They’re just trying to sweep it under the carpet,” Mr Gray said.

“She should’ve been sacked, resigned or disciplined and it should’ve been made public."

Following the statement from Surrey police, Mr Gray said the family are considering referring the decision to the IOPC.

“The IOPC should have looked into this as a serious and sensitive case.

“It doesn’t get more serious in my book,” he said.

The Surrey police statement in full:

“As soon as it was identified, this matter was referred to our Professional Standards Department (PSD).

"The circumstances surrounding the officer’s conduct, both at the time and subsequently, have been fully reviewed by PSD and this review determined that their actions do amount to a misconduct.

"After careful consideration of the circumstances including that, apart from a single meeting, the officer was no longer working on the investigation and had left the Force during the period in question, it concluded this matter was at a level which could be dealt with appropriately through management action with the officer involved.”

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MoD failed to learn and failed Geoff

The MoD failed to learn lessons from the first two shooting deaths at Deepcut in time to prevent two more, the coroner said as he concluded Geoff Gray committed suicide. Pte Gray was found with two gunshot wounds in his forehead on September 17, 2001. He was the third young solider to die from gunshots at the controversial Princess Royal Barracks near the Surrey village of Deepcut between 1995 and 2002. Days after the first inquest into his death recorded an open verdict, James Collinson became the fourth.

Geoff Gray

His Honour Judge Peter Rook QC heavily criticised the MoD for failing to act on the findings of their own reports. “It is disappointing that it appears to have required the deaths of both Geoff Gray and James Collinson whilst on guard duty before proper and full consideration was given to the risks of armed guard duty. “The problem has now been addressed. “In Geoff’s case, it was too late,” Peter Rook QC said. The judge concluded 17-year-old Geoff Gray committed suicide by shooting himself twice in the head after hearing evidence over 28 days of hearings at the Surrey coroner’s court in Woking. The well liked 17-year-old, described as army barmy, was said to have had everything to live for. His death in 2001 followed Sean Benton and Cheryl James six years earlier. Judge Rook told the coroner’s court at Woking: “By 2001 the MoD had still not taken action to avoid the need for Phase 2 trainees to perform guard duty. “Phase 2 trainees would have been trained in the skill of how to make a weapon work, but would have had little or no experience as to when to use one. “As well as guard duty often being a demoralising experience in itself, on any view, guard duty in the middle of the night at an isolated location could be a deeply unsettling and lonely experience for young inexperienced trainees.” Pte Gray died within days of the 911 attacks on New York in 2001. HHJ Rook said: “It should also be Bourne in mind the extent of the responsibility that was being placed on the young and inexperienced when, regrettably, a terrorist attack had become something which had to be regarded as a possibility.”

Army should have been aware

The army should have been aware of the dangers following the first two deaths, the coroner said.

“It is deeply disappointing to discover that the MoD was so slow to recognised the risks of Phase 2 trainees being required to do guard duty, in terms of exposing them to the opportunity to self harm whilst alone and isolated with a lethal weapon,” he said.

“There was a failure to appreciate that whatever new welfare measures were being introduced, on occasions it will not be foreseeable that a particular young trainee was at risk.

“No Phase 2 trainee should have been on unsupervised armed guard duty in 2001.

“There is no evidence to suggest that full consideration was given, by senior policy makers in the army to the risk of self-harm posed by granting trainees unsupervised access to firearms before the military investigation which led to the production of the Deepcut Investigation Deputy Adjutant General’s final report in December 2002.

“That report warned that ‘generally the risks increased with the frequency with which someone who is included to take their own life by predisposition and stimulations is presented with both the means and scope for opportunity. In this respect the investigation found that the frequency, size and limited supervision of guard at Deepcut created the circumstances.’

“It recommended that the routine scrutiny and guard of the Deepcut site should be take over by the Military Provost Guard Service as son as reasonably practicable.”

Peter Rook QC

Lackadaisical approach

The coroner also slammed Surrey police for their lackadaisical approach to the first investigation into the death of Geoff Gray. Vital evidence was lost as a result of the early assumption the death had been suicide resulting in a perfunctory approach, the coroner said. “It is accepted by Surrey Police that inappropriately premature assumptions were made that Geoff had died at his own hand, and that as a result, the standard of investigation was not as it should have been.” The coroner said the most significant omission in forensic evidence was the destruction of Pte Gray’s clothes. He described the incineration of his uniform and gloves before they could be forensically examined as astonishing. “It is astonishing that Geoff’s clothing was already earmarked for destruction by September 18, 2001, before any investigator could possibly have had proper opportunity to review the entirety of the evidence in Geoff’s case and have re-considered the validity of the immediate assumptions that had been made at the scene,” Peter Rook said. He also noted with extreme disappointment Surrey police had not taken charge of the investigation despite knowing they should have retained primacy. Despite his criticism of the force, the coroner paid tribute to Surrey Police for their handling of the second investigation of Pte Gray’s death. In his closing remarks, the coroner also paid tribute to witnesses for their courage in coming forward. The greatest ordeal of all, however, had been the parents. They had been totally justified in feeling the initial investigation was far from satisfactory and in seeking a second inquest, he said. “Although he was a soldier, he was also still a child. “Today, this would have been a joint agency response with close involvement of his parents and support offered to them.” The first investigation had been cursory and carried out with a closed mind, the coroner said. “Better collections of forensic evidence could have saved or reduced the ordeal.” He was a fine young man with potential and the army had failed him, Peter Rook QC said. The coroner used his conclusion to recommend more rigorous post mortems for gunshot deaths. He said he would be recommending to the Chief Coroner and Royal College of Pathologists consider the issues raised by Geoff Gray’s case. He said he would ask them to “consider amendments to the current guidance to suggest in cases of death from gunshot wounds, even where initial evidential inquiries point towards self-infliction, fuller consideration should be given to the nature of the post-mortem examination to be carried out.”

Family Reaction

Speaking after Peter Rook QC had finished reading his conclusions, John Cooper QC for the Gray family said they were shattered and saddened by the decision.

John Cooper QC

“Geoff was a happy go lucky lad with everything to live for. “He was described by people as having a zest for life and being army barmy. “He trusted the army, his family trusted the army, this was an army family. “They were proud parents when the saw Geoff sign up. “And, yet, on the 17th of September 2001, Geoff was found dead with two gunshot wounds through his head. “The coroner has found a catalogue of missed opportunities in the evidence gathering. “You heard what he said, the Surrey Police made inappropriate and premature assumptions about the fact that this was suicide. “The standard of investigation, as the coroner found, was not what it should have been. “He used words like lackadaisical approach by investigators and a rudderless, low quality investigation. “Early assumptions made by Surrey Police, the MoD police, RMP, SIB and even the coroner’s office contributed to the difficulty we have even now in coming to a just decision. “A perfunctory approach to recording evidence at the scene added to those difficulties. “Fundamental gaps in the scientific evidence that could at the time have been filled will remain unfilled. “Staggeringly, the destruction of Geoff’s clothing very soon after he was taken back from examination, including his gloves, was described by the coroner as astonishing. “And yes, the verdict is suicide. “Inexplicable suicide, as far as the psychiatry element is concerned. “An out of the blue suicide. “The family have been fighting for 17-and-a-half years for justice and for the truth. “This is the view of one tribunal and one coroner’s court.” He urged anyone who was interested in the case to read a copy of the judgement to see if they agreed with the coroner. “We still have profound, profound concerns,” he said. “All I will say is that I hope for those serving bravely in whatever capacity, I hope to God the army have put it right.”

The parents. Geoff and Diane.

Diane Gray said: “It still doesn’t make any sense. “This is only one man’s decision. “We asked for a jury and we were denied a jury. “I think we should have had a jury. “He’s telling us Geoff had everything to live for and then he thinks, making assumptions, that Geoff killed himself when there’s no proof. “I think they are too young at 17, they should have waited till they were older, more experienced. “At that age, they mess about with guns. I think they should have waited till they were a lot older to do armed guard duty and they should never be sent out alone. “We’ve always asked for a public inquiry for this. “The coroner narrowed the inquest so much that we’ve still got a lot of material that hasn’t come to light and needs to come to light and I think the only way forward would be a public inquiry to get this into the open and help prevent more deaths. “He loved the army and it’s now time they served him. “Let the truth be told.”

Geoff Gray Snr said: “I’m absolutely shattered with this conclusion. “The coroner said we shouldn’t make assumptions and then he’s just gone and assumed that Geoff has committed suicide with no evidence. “There’s no forensic evidence to say who shot Geoff. “So how on earth can you come to the conclusion that he committed suicide?”

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Legal submissions lay out options for Deepcut coroner

On the last day of hearings at the Coroner’s Court in Woking, His Honour Judge Peter Rook QC asked representatives of the interested persons if they were ready to make their final submissions as he began the process of compiling his conclusions.

The second inquest into the death of Geoff Gray was ordered after judges in the High Court quashed the first open verdict.

Surrey police and the British army after always maintained the young soldier shot himself twice in the head with an SA-80 rifle on a lone patrol less than a week after the 911 attacks in 2001.

The 17-year-old soldier was the third of four to die from gunshot wounds at the Princess Royal Barracks near the Surrey village of Deepcut between 1995 and 2002.

Diane and Geoff Gray Snr believe their son was shot by somebody else.

“That completes all the evidence at this inquest.

“We now go to submissions,” the judge said.

Each legal team gave a brief outline of their take on evidence heard since the inquest was formally opened on February 26.

John Cooper QC

John Cooper QC for the parents was first to reveal his proposed written submissions.

The family will argue, he said, there is a strong case for a conclusion Pte Gray was unlawfully killed despite the cripplingly inadequate investigation into his death.

“There is evidential basis for unlawful killing.

“There is no evidential basis for suicide,” Mr Cooper said.

“The MoD and police make submissions which we entirely refute and we will go through it paragraph by paragraph.”

Mr Cooper also asked the judge to give serious consideration to sticking with the original open verdict.

The inquest had been exceptional, Mr Cooper said, given the huge problems and crass failures of the initial investigation by the police, army and coroner.

“We put it as strongly as this; as a result of the investigative failures, your inquest has been virtually crippled in coming to any meaningful conclusion.

“We strongly submit, any approach to an open verdict as a last resort would be wrong, inappropriate and setting the courts face against the exceptional nature of the investigative failures, systemically across three investigative bodies.”

The coroner indicated a narrative conclusion may be preferable to recording the single word.

John Beggs QC

John Beggs QC for Surrey police said five points form the basis of their submissions.

He said even though the mild overstatements of Mr Cooper for the Gray family had been entertaining, there is evidence to conclude their son had shot himself to the civil and criminal standard.

Mr Beggs reminded the coroner one of the purposes of an inquest is to allay unjustified suspicion of deliberate wrongdoing.

“Such suspicion has become legendarily embedded on the internet and with many apparently reputable media outlets.

“Most of which can be described as conspiracy theories,” Mr Beggs said.

The incongruity of the evidence from Craig Filmer drove many stakes through his credibility and reliability, Mr Beggs said.

He described Mr Filmer as prolix, contrived and flamboyant.

Mr Beggs said Surrey police officers were correct in their opinion of his evidence.

“In his eyes, he is the ultimate professional solider.

“He seems unable to accept he may have made mistakes on that night.

“He cut the corner, can’t accept that he cut the corner and out of that has grown the conspiracy theory which has grown on the internet and in some mainstream media.

“You should not shy from the unhappy conclusion that Geoff Gray took his own life and deliberately so.”

Mr Filmer rejects his evidence has been undermined.

Nicholas Moss

When he returned to the inquest to give further evidence on the prevention of future deaths, head of army personnel Brigadier Coles was asked only one quest by the Gray family.

They wanted him to confirm the camp was being demolished and redeveloped.

The Ministry of Defence agree they are responsible for some contributing factors and agreed with Surrey poilce, there is enough evidence for the Coroner to conclude Pte Gray shot himself.

“The suggestion that this inquest is crippled by a lack of information is wholly unsustainable,” Nicholas Moss for the MoD said.

The inquest did not have to find reasons why a person may have taken their own life, only if they did, he said.

“It is hugely in the public interest if the court is satisfied a death is self inflicted for that to be made clear.

“It is intention which must be proved, not reason or motive.”

He urged the Coroner to consider the cumulative effect of all the evidence.

The solo patrol showed intent, there was evidence of self infliction and nothing to show the body had been moved after death, Mr Moss said.

There was no evidence indicating the involvement of anybody else.

“There is no evidential foundation to a conclusion of unlawful killing in this inquest,” Mr Moss said.

The judge is expected to start giving his conclusions at 11am on June 20.

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We were naive, Deepcut dad said

The father of a young soldier who died from gunshot wounds at a British army barracks felt intimidated into staying silent over claims police tried to influence a vital witness, his second inquest heard.

Pte Geoff Gray, 17, was shot twice in the head at the controversial Deepcut camp on September 17, 2001.

Dad, Geoff Snr, told the court in Woking he did not know who to turn to when another young soldier told him police made him change his statement.

Geoff Gray Snr said he met former squaddie Tony Griffiths during a break at an army Board of Inquiry hearing in 2007.

“We struck up a conversation.

“It was very general.

“Then he went on to say Surrey Police had made him change his statement,” he said.

Out of my depth

Speaking from the witness box for a second time on the last day of his son’s inquest at Woking, Mr Gray said he did not know how to react.

Asked by Bridget Dolan QC for the inquest why he had not mentioned the conversation with Pte Griffiths when they BoI resumed, Mr Gray said he was shocked and intimidated.

“I was really out of my depth there.

“I was a guest.

“We had lost faith in complaining and the chain of command by then anyway,” he said.

Geoff and Diane Gray

Mr Gray understood the soldier was telling him Surrey police wanted him to change his account of the search for the body.

Nicholas Moss for the MoD told the court Mr Griffiths denied the conversation ever took place.

“You will appreciate what Griffiths says about this conversation.

“He doesn’t recall it or it would be as you suggest since he has always given the same account,” Mr Moss said.

“I’ve seen that,” Mr Gray said.

The conversation did not form part of the application for a new inquest or in any of his earlier statements, Mr Moss said.

“Without any discourtesy to you, why wasn’t it in the application for this fresh inquest,” he asked.

“I have no idea,” Mr Gray said.

“You would have understood how important the search evidence was and you would have known they were right at the heart of it.

“Can you help us to understand why it wasn’t in the application,” Mr Moss asked.

“I can definitely remember the conversation with Griffiths. 

“I can’t say why it wasn’t in the application,” Mr Gray said.

Map with notes from witness Tony Griffiths showing where the start and end points where the search party cut across the field missing the position where Pte Geoff Gray was later found

John Cooper QC for the Gray family admitted: “If we missed it, we missed it.”

Mr Cooper asked how Mr Gray felt the family had been treated at the Board of Inquiry.

“Looking back now, appallingly.

“By Surrey Police, the coroner’s office and the army.

“We were very naive.

“We were told we didn’t need legal representation.

“I was totally out of my depth.

“We were handed a bundle of papers and give 10 minutes to read them.

“We were only invited because of the furore over Deepcut.

“I can remember on occasion I was told to shut up.

“I wasn’t being allowed to participate in something I thought was really important,” Mr Gray said.

The family felt the death of their son was being swept under the carpet, Mr Gray said.

He denied there was any chance of mistaken identity in his recollection of the conversation.

“There is no confusion in my mind in this matter.

“I’ve come to this inquest, my son’s inquest, and I’m going to tell the truth,” Mr Gray said.

His Honour Judge Peter Rook QC, sitting as coroner, asked Mr Gray if he felt he had been unable to do himself justice at the BoI.

“It was quite intimidating.

“If it had been now, we would have been a lot stronger,” Mr Gray said.

Geoff Gray was the third of four young soldiers to die from gunshot wounds at the Princess Royal Barracks between 1995 and 2002.

The 17-year-old had gone on a lone patrol while on guard duty at the camp near the Surrey village of Deepcut.

His body was not found for almost an hour.

The judge is expected to give his conclusions on June 20.

[deepcutinquest]

Deepcut detective in sexual relationship with key witness

A police detective on the Deepcut inquiry told a court she had a sexual relationship with a key witness during the investigation but denied she was  used as a honeytrap. DC Jamie Keech told the second inquest into the death of Pte Geoff Gray, 17, she started a relationship with the witness after taking his statement. She described it as fleeting and kept her contact with Craig Filmer secret from Surrey police colleagues until he revealed it from the witness box. The former army corporal told how he was intimate with the detective after meeting her in a pub when he appeared at the inquest last month. In a further written statement he denied the relationship carried on after the chance meeting.

Honeytrap

During her evidence, DC Keech said she had arranged to see Mr Filmer at the pub and the couple met several more times. John Cooper QC for the Gray family asked the officer why she had not informed her colleagues she was in a relationship with a significant witness in the investigation they were working on. “A relatively experienced officer, a woman in her 30s, has interviewed a significant witness and you have a sexual relationship with him without informing your colleagues. “On all levels that’s appalling professional conduct,” Mr Cooper said. “I agree it shouldn’t have happened,” DC Keech said. “Even two years ago, when it was widespread Geoff Gray was going to have a new inquest, did it not cross your mind to tell anybody,” Mr Cooper asked. “No,” the officer said. DC Keech denied Mr Filmer was being targeted and the meeting instigated by Surrey police. Mr Filmer has made allegations against other Surrey officers accusing them of trying to influence him, the court heard. He was concerned he was being stitched up and being made a fall guy, Mr Cooper said. “You’ve heard of a honeytrap,” he asked. “Was this a honeytrap?” “Absolutely not,” the detective said.

The only thing we had in common

The serving Surrey detective first met Mr Filmer when she travelled to Devon to interview him as part of the second police investigation into deaths at Deepcut. The former army corporal was second in command of the guard on the night Pte Gray was found with two bullet wounds to the head in the grounds of the controversial British army camp. He led the search which failed to find his body for almost an hour. DC Keech told the inquest at Woking she had been part of the Operation Nickel team set up to investigate the death of Pte James Collinson and re-investigate the death of Pte Gray. Pte Collinson was the fourth young solider to die from gunshot wounds at the same barracks. “Did it cross your mind to report it when you were investigating Collinson and having a relationship with a witness in Gray,” Mr Cooper asked. “No,” the detective said. Mr Cooper said it was unbelievable for the detective to suggest she never discussed either case with Mr Filmer. “I did not discuss Collinson, Gray or the police investigation with Mr Filmer whatsoever,” she said.

In a written statement prepared after his live evidence to the inquest, Mr Filmer denied the relationship carried on after the night at a pub in the Aldershot area. He said he refuted the denial from DC Keech they did not discuss the police investigation. “It was the only thing we had in common,” he said. “As I said in evidence, I said I was uncomfortable about it.” He also denied the relationship developed while he was the police point of contact at Deepcut. “I can say with certainty, I wasn’t that person. “I can only think she has mistaken me for someone else,” he said. Following the hearing, a spokesman for Surrey police said: “As soon as it was identified, this matter was referred to our Professional Standards Department who are assessing any potential conduct issues.” A second inquest into the death of Pte Gray was ordered after an application to the Attorney General and the High Court. He was the third of four young soldiers found dead from gunshot wounds at the Princess Royal barracks near the Surrey village of Deepcut between 1995 and 2002. His Honour Judge Peter Rook QC, sitting as assistant coroner, is expected to give his conclusions on June 20.

[deepcutinquest]

(Deepcut - The Inquest)

[deepcutinquest]

Suicide expert said soldier death consistent with self infliction

The apparent suicide of a teenage Deepcut soldier was the result of cumulative risk factors rapidly developing into a crescendo of tragedy, a psychiatrist said. Suicide expert Professor Louis Appleby said the inexplicability of his suicide made it more likely Pte Geoff Gray had taken his own life. “That is an absolutely common feature of suicide in young people,” he said. “It’s very common for parents to say to me it was impossible to believe because the signs were so few. “We’ve got to distinguish between the emotional shock of suicide and the evidence. “It’s common for people to express disbelief. “Often when you go back, there are signs.” Pte Gray’s death was consistent with suicide, he said. Suicide expert Professor Louis Appleby was the only mental health professional asked to give an opinion at the second inquest for teenager Pte Geoff Gray. The 17-year-old was died from two gunshot wounds to the forehead after going out on a lone patrol at the Surrey barracks in the early hours of September 17, 2001. He was the third of four young soldiers to die from gunshots at the controversial camp between 1995 and 2002. Prof Appleby said the cumulative effect of several risk factors could be behind his suicide.

Prof Louis Appleby

The psychiatrist, who was a 30 year career and leads a suicide research unit at the University of Manchester, agreed the teenager soldier appeared to be enjoying the start of his army career. This did not rule out a masked troubled state of mind, he said. The professor was asked to review witness statements and documents by coroner Peter Rook QC and comment on the presence or absence of risk factors. The only two factors identified were Pte Gray was young and male. “It’s very important to stress I wasn’t interviewing anybody,” the professor said. “I was dependent on witness statements.” Pte Gray was not violent or impulsive, he said. He didn’t have a persistent pattern of low mood. “It doesn’t rule out he could have a troubled state of mind. “He didn’t have any particular risk factors for suicide but one in 100 will die by suicide. “It shows it was a common view he was a cheerful person, not depressed.” Ms Dolan asked the professor if his report identified contrary evidence. “It is possible to construct a coherent picture of somebody who was not in their normal frame of mind. “You are looking for when things start to go wrong. “There are signs that lives are beginning to become troubled. “You are looking for evidence of that. “A cumulative risk, escalating to the point of death. “An event or series of events, final straw phenomenon.” The professor said he was looking for evidence Pte Gray was becoming more troubled in the weeks leading up to his death. “There was some evidence of that,” he said. Background evidence from the weeks leading up to his death were not the basis for concluding it was consistent with suicide, the professor said. He told John Cooper QC for the Gray family: “It was the description of the incident of his death itself. “The attempt to separate himself form his colleagues and the specific references to death by gunshots - which is the method by which he died,” he said. During a break in the final day of evidence at the hearings in Woking, the Gray family legal team provided a summary of witness accounts given in court. Mr Cooper asked the professor if, having seen the summary, he still believed his conclusion was reliable. “I’m seeking to see if you were falsely relying on them given what has happened in this inquest. “I would suggest based on the evidence which has come out, Geoff was very happy leading up to September 16.” “It is possible to acknowledge people took that view,” Prof Appleby said. One of the main justifications for his conclusion the death of Pte Gray was consistent with suicide is the lone patrol. He told the two on of the other guards he was on duty with she could stay behind rather than patrol with him. “Are you aware, Geoff indicated to her he was concerned about her state of mind,” Mr Cooper said. “If there’s doubt about these key points, then of course that might change the strength of my conclusion, if the facts turn out to be less reliable, the witnesses less credible. “It’s one point. “My conclusion is suicide is consistent with the cause of death is based on the details of the incident - distancing himself from other people and taking about death by gunshot. “If there is some doubt about these things, it would change the strength of my conclusion,” Professor Appleby said. Mr Cooper asked him if he was aware a comment attributed to Pte Gray was made while he was playing a violent video game during a break in his guard duty. “It wasn’t in the witness statements,” the professor said. “It’s still a fairly unusual thing to have said.” “If this is less reliable, it would influence the conclusion.” Mr Cooper described a witness who said Pte Gray talked about shooting himself on the night he was killed as an attention seeker who wanted to place himself at the centre of the story, building on the hysteria of events. “If there is significant doubt over any evidence, it raises significant doubt over the conclusions,” Prof Appleby said.

Geoff Gray

It was almost always difficult to give an adequate explanation for suicide, he said. “Is this you trying to explain something you cannot explain,” Mr Cooper asked. “It’s often what we do. “My remit was to say how likely suicide would have been. “My expertise is suicide,” the professor said. Mr Cooper asked the expert if he agreed with Deepcut commanding officer Lt Col Ron Laden the only person responsible for his death was Pte Gray. “It’s not the way doctors view incidents of suicide,” he said. “Our approach is to try to understand a range of factors. “It’s our job to come up with a more complex view. “Culturally, we don’t expect people to die by suicide. “We tend to play down the difficulties they might get into. “Behind these comments may be an impending crisis. “We should assume there is a serious back ground to any comment with a suicidal background. “We protect ourselves from the distress in other people in different ways,” the professor said. The inquest is expected to hear final submissions after the Easter break.

[deepcutinquest]

Nothing routine about a soldier with two bullet wounds to the head, expert said

The Deepcut shooting death of a teenage solider should have been treated as suspicious from the start, his second inquest heard. Vital physical evidence which would have proved how he died was ignored, destroyed or missed, experts said. Pte Geoff Gray was 17 when he was found with two fatal gunshot wounds and an army SA-80 rifle lying beside his body. He was the third of four young soldiers to die from gunshot wounds at Deepcut between 1995 and 2002. Police and army have always maintained he took his own life. His parents say he was killed by another person at the controversial army camp near the Surrey village of Deepcut in September 2001. A second inquest into his death has heard a list of 12 failings in the first civilian police investigation into his death. Two experts called in to examine evidence and reports for a second inquest told how the lack of proper investigation limited their ability to reach conclusions about how he died. Professor Jack Crane, a forensic scientist with extensive experience of gunshot deaths over decades of work in Northern Ireland including during The Troubles, criticised the decision not to hold a full forensic post mortem examination. The 30 minute autopsy was carried out within hours of the body being found and after Surrey Police and a Coroner’s Officer had assumed the fatal shots were self inflicted.

Not routine

“Shooting cases are not routine,” the professor said.

“First of all, if you make assumptions early on, then there is the likelihood vital evidential material is lost,” Prof Crane said.

“The difficulty is when assumption are made at that early stage not only is material lost, that idea is perpetuated and permeates the investigation and thinking of people.

“It should be thought of as a crime scene and that detailed examination to be continued right through to the post mortem.

“We have heard these terms of routine and special post mortem and this was regarded as routine.

“With the greatest respect, there is nothing routine about a soldier being found with two bullet wounds to the head.

“It should have been treated as suspicious by those at the scene and the Coroner’s Office.

“I certainly would not have regarded this as routine.

“If you start off with that assumption, you start off incorrectly or inappropriately.

“You have to start off looking at it as a suspicious death.”

The professor said X-rays and CT scans should be carried out.

Testing of Pte Gray’s clothing and gloves would have provided vital clues, he said.

“This idea of treating cases as routine is not proper.

“You are making assumptions even before you start and that is what I have concerns with,” he said.

Even minor detail should be recorded including the distance from the soles of the feet to the wounds.

“This is something you can record, so it is something you do record.

“It’s still something that you should do,” he said.

Asked if there was anything to positively indicate the involvement of another person in the death of Pte Gray, the professor said: “No there was not.

“There was no positive evidence of involvement of a third party.”

Prof Jack Crane

A full forensic post mortem is not mandatory in England and Wales and was not required in 2001. In his final report, the professor wrote he believed Pte Gray  was standing up with his back to a tree, holding the weapon horizontally to his forehead. John Cooper QC for the Gray family asked the prof if he had been made aware of blood and tissue seen on a fence and cricket screen beyond it. “I wasn’t aware of that,” he said. Pte Gray would have been facing the fence and screen if he had his back to the tree, Mr Cooper said. “That seems unlikely if he was standing with his back to the tree,” the professor said. “Might that affect your assumption,” Mr Cooper asked. “There is some inconsistency there,” the professor agreed. Mr Cooper asked the professor if the absence of defensive injuries on the young soldier was significant. “The fact is, just because they don’t have defensive injuries doesn’t mean they’ve not been shot by somebody else,” Mr Cooper said. “In my experience, they generally don’t have defensive injuries,” the professor said. German forensic experts were called in by Surrey Police when they reinvestigated all four Deepcut deaths. Nicholas Moss for the MoD said the BKA could not be sure on the on posture, position relative to the tree or direction of fire. Prof Crane said the choice of his forehead as the place to self inflict the shots was unusual. “In my experience, this would be unusual for a longish weapon because it’s a slightly difficult position. “With pistols forehead is more common,” he said.

Leo Rossi

Firearms and ballistics expert Leo Rossi examined the weapon found next to Pte Gray.

Using the evidence available he was satisfied the two shots were close or contact.

“The amount and distribution of gunshot residue in and around the wound site, in my experience it was typical of pattern, distribution and quantity,” he said.

The muzzle of the SA-80 would have been no more than millimetres from Pte Gray’s fore head, he said.

Testing his gloves or the sleeves of his jacket would have proved where the weapon was when it was fired, the expert said.

“In any event, there would be residue on his clothing, but I’m satisfied there would be a clear pattern on the sleeves.”

It would probably have shown if he fired the rifle himself, the expert said.

Bridget Dolan QC for the inquest asked: “Did you find any evidence inconsistent with self infliction?”

“No,” Mr Rossi said.

“Any evidence which could rule out infliction by another,” Ms Dolan asked.

“No.”

“Any evidence inconsistent of infliction by another?”

“No,” Mr Rossi said.

Nicholas Moss for the MoD asked the expert if his general conclusions were entirely consistent with self infliction.

“I didn’t find any evidence a third party was involved,” Mr Rossi said.

Dr Robert Chapman

Dr Robert Chapman who carried out the post mortem said he was not asked to perform a special or more detailed examination of Pte Gray. Surrey Police and the Surrey Coroner, Michael Burgess, did not ask for photographs to be taken or clothing to be retained. Dr Chapman, who went on to examine Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed after their deaths in Paris said: “The decision is arrived at by the Coroner in conjunction with information from the Coroner’s Officer and pathologist too. “I can only remember brief details of circumstances which would include how Geoff was found, where in general terms and some indication if it was thought if this was a suspicious death.” The Home Office pathologist said: “It’s clear to me, no information was provided at all. “If it had, I would not have done a routine post mortem. “I would have suspended it and asked for further investigation.” In response to criticisms by Prof Crane, Dr Champman said: “Based on the information I had and what I could see, I was happy to proceed.” John Cooper QC for the Gray family asked the pathologist why he had not made a note of a leg tattoo on Pte Gray. “Just because it wasn’t in the report, doesn’t mean it was noticed,” Dr Chapman said. “Your examination of Geoff was inadequate,” Mr Cooper said. “I think it was adequate for the coroner,” the pathologist said. John Beggs QC for Surrey Police asked Dr Chapman what he would have done if he had noticed a black eye or any defensive wounds. “Or anything which suggested third party, you would have reported it?” “Yes,” the pathologist said. The inquest continues.

[deepcutinquest]

His own fault, commander said

A teenage soldier found shot twice in the head at Deepcut died after disobeying orders, his commanding officer said. Former Lt Col Ron Laden told an inquest, the 17-year-old was the only person responsible for his death. Pte Geoff Gray should not have gone out on patrol alone when the camp was on high alert, the Lt Col Laden said. He was found with two bullet wounds to the forehead days after the 911 attacks on New York. Surrey Police and the British army have always maintained the teen shot himself. Pte Gray was the third of four young soldiers shot dead at the barracks near the Surrey village of Deepcut between 1995 and 2002. A second inquest was ordered last year.

Disobeyed orders

Retired army officer Mr Laden said: “We understood he had disobeyed his orders. “He had gone off himself, there were gunshots and he was found dead. “Therefore the person responsible for his death was him. “As the evidence was presented to me, from an army perspective, the only person responsible for Pte Gray’s death was himself.” John Cooper QC for the Gray family asked the retired Lt Col if he thought his view on the death of a teenager was harsh. “Is that a glimpse of what you really think,” Mr Cooper asked. “You were told a young boy had shot himself and your view was he was the only one responsible, not something poisonous and insidious at Deepcut?” “You asked me to speak bluntly and plainly and then criticise me for it,” Mr Laden said. “From the evidence, there was no poisonous army issue involving Pte Gray.” Lt Col Laden took over as commanding officer at the Deepcut base of the Royal Logistics Corps three months before Pte Gray was killed. He was still in charge when Pte James Collinson was killed in 2002. As commanding officer, he faced the same challenges as other commanders since the creation of the RLC. Staffing ratios and army cuts had driven officer numbers down and trainee numbers up. Deepcut was training 1700 recruits a year, Mr Laden said, and he tried to maintain the high welfare standards he inherited. He told the inquest he drove his staff to the point of physical and mental collapse.

Suicide

Mr Laden said he was phoned at home after Pte Gray was found after he heard gunfire he thought sounded too close. “My adjutant phoned me. “He said it looks like it’s a suicide.” The former Lt Col decided not to go to the scene. “I assumed the police were still there and I didn’t want to get involved, so I went to the guard room. He told Bridget Dolan QC for the inquest he did not find out until after the first inquest how long it had taken to find the missing private or there had been conflicting accounts. “I do not recall anything prior to the inquest. “There was discussion after the inquest,” he said. He told the hearing at the Coroner’s Court in Woking he took no part in the investigations which followed the death of Pte Gray. Pte Gray was never brought to his attention and no welfare needs were ever identified for the 17-year-old. “From what I understand of Pte Gray, he would not have been a risk soldier. “Family were married, had been in the scouts, he knew what it meant to be part of a team. “Many of the other young men come from brutally disadvantaged backgrounds.”

Marriage Break Up

The former senior army officer blamed problems in his own private life and ill health on events at Deepcut. “I was ill. “I was under stress. “The world’s press were outside my camp. “I was being accused in the press daily of various things. “I had a heart attack brought on by this case,” Mr Laden told the inquest. He accused his military bosses of trying to hound him out after the fourth death of a young solider. “You were being hung out to dry,” Mr Cooper asked. “I was less than confident my employer had my back,” he said. “There was a subtle spin coming out of the MoD. “There was a mood; you’re in command, it’s gone wrong, it’s your fault. “Elements were trying to force me to resign. “I have required counselling to handle the depression about how the MoD mishandled the situation and were trying to blame me.” He broke down as he told the court: “It was a major impact on the break up of my marriage.”

Leadership Qualities

Press attention on Deepcut was intense following the death of James Collinson, Mr Laden said. A security breach at the camp in 2002 when a young soldier on guard duty was punched after chasing a figure in dark clothing was likely to have been a freelance journalist, he said. “We were at the centre of a public maelstrom,” Mr Laden said. “I had some very clear thoughts. “It was the press. “A freelance journalist was going to try and get in and ran off when they were challenged. “We had people going through dustbins, long lenses, trying to get into wards. “That was one of the theories.” No such story ever appeared in any journal, Mr Cooper said. “Let’s get back to reality. “What about somebody who had ill will trying to get in, not a member of the press or a burglar,” he asked. “By 2002, somebody with ill will would have been ill advised,” Mr Laden said. “You are saying you didn’t even think this might be somebody with ill will because they knew soldiers had guns, but it might be a burglar?” “Yes,” Mr Laden said. “I am not in charge of Surrey Police, MoD police, RMP. “The civil authorities were investigating it. “There were professionals in charge of it.” Mr Cooper said: “You talk about leadership qualities, I’m suggesting to you they were sorely lacking.” Mr Laden asked: “I’d like to know what you think my leadership qualities were, Mr Cooper?” “Nil,” Mr Cooper said. “Thank you very much,” Mr Laden replied.

God

John Cooper asked him to explain comments in a police interview about how religion framed his views on suicide. “I am, much to my surprise, still influenced by my Roman Catholic upbringing,” he said “Much as I am an atheist, under moments of stress they come back. “I have prayed in a fox hole to a god I don’t believe in,” he said. He denied a suggestion from Mr Cooper he was using religion to avoid being seen as uncaring.

Paradox

The former colonel said it was the army the operational ethos at the time to keep soldiers who had been involved in stressful situations as close as possible. Two teenage soldiers who were involved in finding Pte Gray were put on guard at the same place within hours. Tissue and blood from Pte Gray were still visible at the scene weeks after his death, the inquest heard previously. “Are you appalled to learn young soldiers probably walked past his body tissue,” Mr Cooper asked. “It’s a bit of a conundrum for me,” Mr Laden said. “I’m shocked, embarrassed and humiliated if it did happen.” The Gray family believe their son was killed by somebody else. “We have a paradox,” Mr Laden said. “I rather thought that the tenet was he wasn’t shot in that area.” “I’m sure you’re not trying to be clever,” Mr Cooper said.

Improper

The colonel said he has stopped being surprised by anything which came from the Ministry of Defence after receiving a letter asking him to attempt to influence Pte Gray’s parents. Mr Cooper read two paragraphs from the April 2002 letter to Lt Col Laden from Major Longhurst at army personnel. “It is obvious that regardless of what we say or what comes out form an Army Board of Inquiry, Mr and Mrs Gray will not accept the there has not been a cover-up. “You may wish to encourage the police to prove to the Grays that their son did have a motive to commit suicide, as shown by his text messages. “It obviously must come from the police, but it is probably the only way we can convince them.” Mr Cooper said: “It’s an entirely improper suggestion.” “At that stage, I wasn’t shocked by anything which came from army HQ to me,” Mr Laden said. “You were not shocked that the MoD were trying to insight you to ask the police to speak to the Grays,” Mr Cooper said. “By this stage, I was receiving witless letters on every aspect as if I somehow knew stuff. Most went in the wastepaper bin,” Mr Laden said. He agreed it was improper. “I’m no friend of the MoD. “I think it was inappropriate. “That’s the charitable inference,” Mr Laden said.

He told Nicholas Moss for the Ministry of Defence he had been flattered by comments from his brigadier praising his crusading spirit and real vigour.“

I cannot claim to have suffered in the same way as Mr and Mrs Gray,” Mr Laden told Surrey police.

The Deepcut Four

“Is it right, first and foremost you are aware of the tragedy they suffered and feel,” his representative Charles Blatchford asked Mr Laden.

“Yes,” he said. A letter written on the day he died showed the colonel had not rushed to conclusions about the death of Pte Gray, Mr Blatchford said. He included his private number in the letter, the court heard. Lt Col Laden retired from the army in 2013. The inquest continues.

[deepcutinquest]

A dozen times police failed Deepcut family

Bungling cops failed the family of Deepcut soldier Geoff Gray a dozen times after they decided within minutes his death was suicide. They did not investigate to the standard his family should have expected or deserved. Surrey Police failed his parents by assuming almost immediately the 17-year-old shot himself twice in the head. They abdicated their responsibility to investigate, an inquest heard. Pte Gray was the third of four young soldiers to die from gunshots between 1995 and 2002 at the controversial Deepcut camp in Surrey Former head of CID Craig Denholm ended his police career in 2014 as chief constable of Hampshire. The force and army have always maintained Pte Gray took his own life. “The initial investigation was not of the standard his parents should expect or deserved,” Bridget Dolan QC to the inquest said. “We accepted that very early,” Mr Denholm admitted. Ms Dolan took the former head of crime through a dozen examples of how the force failed the family.

His clothes destroyed without being examined

No forensic post mortem examination of the body

Limited photography of the scene

No forensic assessment at the scene

No mapping of the position of spent cartridges found at the scene

Limited searches at the scene

Taking witness statements was delayed

Documents were not seized at the time

No forensic analysis of the weapon found next to the body

No forensic analysis of the cartridges

No forensic checking of who had rifles at the scene

Inconsistencies in witness accounts not followed up

“Against all of that, family questions still unanswered have lead them to lose confidence in the public authorities,” Ms Dolan said.

“Early assumptions permeated investigations later. “There are still some large gaps in the evidence which might have been available had early action been taken more promptly and properly.” “Yes,” Mr Denholm admitted. The Surrey Police investigation effectively ceased less than two hours after the body was found, Mr Denholm admitted.

Craig Denholm

A routine post mortem was carried out the same day. “If every single death was treated as a murder, the police service just could not possibly achieve that,” he said.

Pressure

Following the bungled investigation, media pressure forced Surrey Police to reopen all four cases.

“Were you ever put under any pressure from the military to persuade the Gray’s their son had a motive to commit suicide,” John Cooper QC for the Gray family asked Mr Denholm.

“No, absolutely not,” he said.

Mr Cooper showed him a letter written to the commanding officer at Deepcut from the director of army personnel written in April 2002 asking him to encourage the police to prove to the Grays their son had a motive to commit suicide.

“Are you surprised to read that,” Mr Cooper asked.

“It would be improper.”

“Yes, it would,” Mr Denholm said.

Mr Cooper asked the former policeman about a meeting with the army in 2002 to discuss media attention following the death of James Collinson which described all four as apparent suicides.

“Would you accept, these deaths were being treated as four apparent suicide,” Mr Cooper asked.

“Not by Surrey police,” Mr Denholm said.

Geoff Gray

Quoting from minutes of the meeting, Mr Cooper said: “A main aim would be to prepare the ground for any call for a public inquiry to be defeated.”

“I have no recollection of that being a subject of discussion,” Mr Denholm said.

Notes from the meeting showed the Surrey force and the army thought all press releases would be discussed between media ops and police.

“Let’s get our stories straight before we go public,” Mr Cooper said.

“I can’t comment on whether this is accurate.

“It doesn’t reflect what actually happened,” Mr Denholm said.

The police abdicated their responsibility to investigate the death of Pte Gray, Mr Cooper said.

“Are you aware if any aspect passed to military,” he asked Mr Denholm.

“I’ve seen nothing to suggest it formally passed.

“It would appear that the army investigation team did continue - to their credit.”

The early decision to cease the investigation flew in the face of basic policing techniques, Mr Cooper said.

“There was conflicting evidence at the time,” Mr Denholm said.

Honeytrap

The former CID head was asked about an incident involving a central witness and a female detective.

“Are you aware of evidence from Mr Filmer about a liaison with her?

“The allegation is she went into a pub and, amongst other things, struck up a conversation with him about his evidence and then they started becoming intimate and kissing.

“They went back in a taxi to her home but he didn’t go in.

“If that is right, it would have been entirely inappropriate,” Mr Cooper said.

“I would want to fully understand before commenting on it,” Mr Denholm said before denying Mr Filmer had been targeted by Surrey police.

Mr Denholm also denied Surrey police had tried to shift blame to the army after press interest in the four deaths grew.

Scapegoat

Charles Blatchford, who represents Col Ronald Laden, said the in 2003 Surrey police had decided to slowly turn media focus away from murder to criticism of the culture at Deepcut following the arrival of a new deputy chief constable.

“I accept the language is unfortunate,” Mr Denholm said.

“We felt it was completely appropriate to be raising those things publicly.

“We took the brave decision to raise matters,” he said.

As mum Diane and father Geoff listened, Mr Blatchford asked the former detective if he remembered interviewing the former Deepcut commander in 2003.

“It was a fishing expedition, wasn’t it?

“Looking for a scapegoat?

“Do you recall him being unwell, coughing all the time.”

“I recall it being sensible, polite interview,” Mr Denholm said.

Primacy

Nicholas Moss for the MoD showed the former CID head two Home Office directives from 1987 and 1999 confirming civilian police should investigate any sudden death.

“Those were the guidelines at the time of Geoff Gray’s death.

“Civilian poilce primacy,” Mr Moss said.

“Yes, that’s correct,” Mr Denholm said.

“The Surrey Police policy was inaccurate at that time.”

Coroner Peter Rook QC asked him: “The decision was made too early it was just a sudden death and not a suspicious death and you are accepting that?”

“Yes, sir.”

The re-investigation which followed had been thorough and professional, Mr Denholm said.

The inquest continues.

[deepcutinquest]

Vital evidence destroyed without being examined

Vital evidence in the fatal shooting of a young Deepcut soldier was destroyed after police decided within minutes his death was self inflicted. Geoff Gray’s blood stained uniform was incinerated after a routine post mortem the day after his body was discovered with two bullet wounds to the forehead. Paperwork which would have shown who signed out the weapon found next to the body was routinely shredded without being examined. Pte Gray, 17, was the third young soldier to die from gunshot wounds at the Princess Royal barracks between 1995 and 2002. His body was eventually found around an hour after shots were heard soon after he went on a loan patrol round the controversial Surrey camp. Police and military have always maintained the young Londoner took his own life despite no evidence of personal problems, bullying or dissatisfaction with army life. His second inquest, ordered after the High Court ruled it was in the public interest, heard detectives from Surrey Police made the decision not to investigate his death within two hours. The army camp near the Surrey village of Deepcut was on high alert following the September 11 attacks on the USA in 2001.

Not suspicious

A former camp adjutant told the inquest at Woking he was told the death was not suspicious by civilian police on the morning the body was found.

Then captain James Mowle was contacted at home just after 2:30am on September 17.

He said he was told within two hours by a plain clothes civilian CID officer the death was not being treated as suspicious.

“I vividly remember that.

“I wanted to know exactly what the view was at the time because it could have been a security incident.

“When the police officer informed me, I clarified no third party involved therefore it was self inflicted.

“I then asked the police officer if I could inform the military to that effect.”

Geoff Gray

Former Surrey Coroner’s Officer Sue Masters confirmed Pte Gray’s uniform was bagged and binned for incineration straight after a post mortem the next day. Ms Masters has been a Coroner’s Officer for six years when Pte Gray was killed. She told Bridget Dolan QC for the inquest she attended the examination of his body. She said the autopsy was routine and no photographs were taken. “Nobody asked for photographs to be taken at the post mortem,” she said. No forensic tests were carried out on the uniform, gloves, beret or body. There was some staining on the beret, the former Coroner’s Officer said. “Minimal, some. “Blood tests weren’t done on it. “I’m assuming it was blood,” Ms Masters said, The uniform was sent for destruction after a conversation with adjutant James Mowle. He was accompanying Pte Gray’s parents who were at the Frimley Green army hospital to view their son’s body.

Incinerated

John Cooper QC for the family asked the former Coroner’s Officer if she thought the coronial investigation should be extremely diligent and comprehensive knowing his was the third solider death at Deepcut.

“Were you aware of public concern or interest,” he asked.

“I didn’t really become aware of it.

“The only thing I was aware of at that time was three young people had died as a result of incidents involving guns.

“I am not responsible for making decisions as to how post mortems or investigations are conducted,” Ms Masters said.

Mr Cooper said the destruction of the uniform had caused the family considerable anxiety.

“I’m not responsible for authorising the disposal,” Ms Masters said.

“The police would have told me it was no longer required.

“Surrey police saying they didn’t require it and the military saying they didn’t require it.”

James Mowle, who finished his military career as Major, said he was at the hospital to offer support to the family and was not representing the army.

“I assumed those conversations were going on between the Surrey Police, coroner’s office and the army SIB.

“I’m a logistician.

“It was not my place to say if they were required or not.”

Bridget Dolan QC

Army documents which showed who was on guard and which position they were assigned to were not produced at the first inquest until after an army officer offered to clear up confusion over who was where on the night. Peter Skinsley, who was due to take over from James Mowle as adjutant on the day Pte Gray died, said he offered to supply documents to the first inquest to clear up confused witness evidence. He arranged for guard room logs to be faxed to the hearing in 2002 to confirm who was where and when. The documents had not been requested before the inquest. He explained notes showing who signed out each individual weapon for guard duty were routinely destroyed within a couple of months. Nicholas Moss for the MoD said: “There was a standard process for them to be kept in the guard room and destroyed as a matter of routine because there was no particular need to keep them?” “At that time, in September 2001, that was the process, yes,” Mr Skinsley said. The inquest continues.

[deepcutinquest]

Police and military clash over who should investigate Deepcut death

Police and military clashed over who should investigate the fatal shooting of a young soldier at Deepcut. There was graphic disagreement between civilian and military police over their roles, an inquest heard. Surrey detectives believed the barracks death should be handled by the army. Army Special Investigation Branch police quoted Home Office instructions stating any sudden death should be investigated by civilian police. A Surrey Police report on the investigation said: “As the death was not considered suspicious, the investigation appears to have been passed to the SIB.” Pte Geoff Gray was found with two bullet wounds to the forehead a few days after the 911 attacks in 2001. Police and military have always maintained he took his own life. His body was found after the 17-year-old went on a loan patrol round the Officers Mess at the Princess Royal barracks near the Surrey village of Deepcut. He was the third of four young soldiers to die from gunshots at the camp between 1995 and 2002.

Who was in charge?

A former army investigator told his second inquest she started taking statements from soldiers after realising Surrey Police were not speaking to potentially important witnesses. Linda Dunford told the inquest at Woking she arrived after civilian police who had already established the shooting was not a terrorist attack. John Cooper QC for the Gray family asked: “Exactly who was going to take ownership of this investigation, military or poilce?” The former military investigator said: “It was quite clear to me jurisdiction would always lie with civil police.” There was a graphic disagreement, Mr Cooper said. “I found it was quite clear for me,” Ms Dunford replied. Military vehicle headlights were being used to illuminate the scene when the Special Investigation Branch duty officer said she agreed Surrey Police were in charge. “We never had primacy,” the former sergeant said.

Diagram drawn by police surgeon Dr Krzystof Jakubowski

Ms Dunford said she started taking more detailed statements from potential witnesses after being told they had not spoken to Surrey police. “I was concerned they hadn’t been spoken to by the civil police and time was progressing. “I realised the importance of getting it there and then.” The statements were taken on behalf of the civilian police, she said. “It was important we were passing on information from the statements.” John Cooper QC for the Gray family read from a Surrey police report on his death. “As this death was not considered suspicious, the investigation passed to the SIB,” he read. “I would like to make it perfectly clear, the investigation was never handed over to SIB,” Ms Dunford said. “Why is there such a clear and dramatic difference, one saying the other was responsible,” Mr Cooper asked. “My direction and purpose was very clear,” Ms Dunford said.

Evidence destroyed

Within hours of the shooting, a Surrey Police detective at the scene had decided to return the weapon found by the body to the armoury. “I said it should be retained as an exhibit,” Ms Dunford told Bridget Dolan QC for the inquest. “In my mind, I was thinking we needed to check it wasn’t faulty and had gone off accidentally.” The SIB made arrangements for Pte Gray’s mobile phone to be examined after it was discovered in his clothing during the post mortem. “Did is shock you to discover the clothes were destroyed,” Mr Cooper asked the former sergeant. He described the destruction in a hospital incinerator as appalling. “The gloves he was wearing could have indicated if he pulled the trigger or if his hands were in the air or backing off from a gun,” Mr Cooper said. “Anybody would be upset, shocked. “If evidence is lost which could be key - it is upsetting, yes,” she said. No civilian police were present at the post mortem. Two members of the SIB attended as part of training for a new recruit. Asked by John Cooper QC if she was shocked to find out the weapon was never forensically checked, the former SIB sergeant said: “Yes.” Asked if she was surprised there were no photographs of the scene, she said: “Yes.”

Geoff Gray

Mr Cooper said: “Are you surprised, as a matter of common decency, no one cleared up the scene properly and there were pieces hanging from the screen weeks later?” Ms Dunford said: “I don’t think I’m really qualified to answer those questions.” Mr Cooper said it seemed no-one was investigating or taking responsibility for how Geoff Gray died. “I took statements and that is investigating. “Civil police were taking statements and that is investigating. “There was a PM and that is investigating,” Ms Dunford said. “It’s about left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing,” Mr Cooper said. “Who is going to take responsibly for this investigation?” “I think I’ve been quite clear,” Ms Dunford said. Nicholas Moss for the MoD asked the former SIB sergeant who had control of the scene and the forensic investigation when she arrived. “Civilian police,” she said. “Did you have any role at all in directing what should be examined, forensic handling, photographs anything to do with you at all,” Mr Moss asked. “No, none at all,” Ms Dunford said. “Did Surrey Police ever say they were handing over to you,” Mr Moss asked. “Never,” she said. The inquest continues.

[deepcutinquest]

Lurid conspiracy theories of corporal who cut corner

A key witness in the Deepcut shooting of a teenage soldier invented lurid conspiracy theories as he changed his account time and again, an inquest heard.

Craig Filmer led the search party which eventually found missing recruit Geoff Gray shot twice in the head.

He changed important details of his version of events and pointed suspicion at other witnesses to cover-up for his own mistakes, the hearing at the coroner’s court in Woking heard.

Pte Gray was the third of four young soldiers found shot dead at the Princess Royal barracks near the Surrey village of Deepcut between 1995 and 2002.

Then Lance Corporal Filmer made up critical aspects of his various accounts and contradicted other witnesses.

Conspiracy Theory

John Beggs QC for Surrey police accused Mr Filmer of trying to cash in on his part in the Deepcut story.

Craig Filmer

Mr Filmer, who is still serving in the army, earlier admitted receiving a payment from the now defunct Sunday paper News of the World.

“You are hoping to cash in with your lurid conspiracy theory,” Mr Beggs asked him.

“Absolutely not,” he said.

Key aspects of Mr Filmer’s story were dismantled by Nicholas Moss for the MoD during a second day in the witness box.

The former lance corporal who was second in command of the guard on the night Pte Gray was killed had changed his story several times, Mr Moss said.

He had cast doubt on the accounts of others with new elements he had remembered months later and contradicted other witnesses to cover his own failings, Mr Moss said.

John Beggs QC

During tense exchanges, Mr Moss took Mr Filmer through his various accounts, picking them apart.

Disgracefully unfair and dishonest

Mr Filmer contradicted the two other soldiers who took part in the search for Pte Gray who said they had cut a corner across a field where the teenage recruit was eventually found.

“Might it be that you were keen to encourage a theory that something dodgy had gone on, because you wanted to deflect attention from the fact that you knew that the corner had been cut in the search,” Mr Moss asked him.

“No,” Mr Filmer said.

Mr Moss said the former lance corporal had attempted to blacken the name of at least one other witness.

Mr Filmer denied making disgracefully unfair and dishonest claims about Epi Naiova.

Mr Moss said Mr Filmer made claims about the Fijian soldier which he knew were exaggerated.

Former Deepcut Regimental Sergeant Major Derek Hendry denied telling Mr Filmer to play the game after he questioned the early assumption Pte Gray had taken his own life.

Mr Hendry said he had been asked to speak to Mr Filmer within hours of the body being found.

He told Bridget Dolan QC for the inquest: “I got a phone call that morning asking me to speak to Filmer.

“They were concerned he was a bit emotional.

“I remember he was upset, understandably emotional.

“He explained he had made a number of searches before he had found the body.

“I wasn’t there to do an investigation, I was trying to find out from his perspective what had gone on.

“The lad was upset at the time.

“I didn’t push him for detail.”

He told John Cooper QC for the Gray family: “I certainly would have no reason to tell him to pay the game.

“I was more concerned about his state of mind.”

Mr Moss for the MoD asked the former RSM if Mr Filmer had been moved out of the course he was on at Deepcut as a result of their conversation.

“If he had been threatened with being sent back to his unit because of something that had gone on between you and him, is there one grain of truth in that?

“No,” Mr Hendry said.

“If I had been made aware of that, I would have had conversation with the school saying not to do that.

“The padre was a good avenue for him.

“I wasn’t even aware that incident had happened.”

The inquest continues.

[deepcutinquest]

Soldier says he was asked to change his account of the night Geoff Gray was killed

A serving army officer sensationally claimed police and military told him to change his account of the night a teenage soldier was shot dead at Deepcut. Craig Filmer told the second inquest into the death of Geoff Gray he was told to “Play the game,” hours after his body was found. The serving Warrant Officer named another senior figure at Deepcut who told him the 17-year-old had taken his own life. “I was informed it was suicide, I declined that suggestion. “He said I needed to play the game.” Then Corporal Filmer was second in command of the guard and led the search party which eventually found Pte Gray dead with two bullet wounds to the forehead.

Play the game

He had gone out on a lone patrol when gunshots were heard at around 1:15am on September 17, 2001. Geoff Gray was the third of four young soldiers to die from gunshot wounds at the controversial Surrey army camp between 1995 and 2002. Mr Filmer asked the coroner, Peter Rook QC, if he was required to answer questions about who had tried to influence his account. He said: “I hadn’t given any details to anybody at this point. “I was told what the assumption was and I didn’t agree.” Mr Filmer, who was attending a course at the camp, said he was quickly moved on from Deepcut following the discussion. “I’d spent a long time on scene. “I was still there at 7am. “I was due to be on a course at 8am. “I didn’t attend the course. “I was visited in my accommodation at lunchtime. “I was told it was suicide, I was asked to play the game. “I was back at the course after lunch where I was told I was to return to my unit for the unauthorised absence.” Bridget Dolan QC, counsel to the inquest, asked Mr Filmer who had asked him to change his factual account of the events and when. He said there had been multiple discussions with many people over the years since giving his first statement to army investigators about the death of Pte Gray.

Liar

“Over the 18 years I’ve lost count of the number of people who’ve tried to persuade me I’m wrong,” he said. “I believe it was first suggested by the police that I’m confused. “Trying to suggest a certain course that was taken. “The course of events. “How many searches, routes. “I declined and stuck to what I knew to be true.” He said other members of the British army had suggested he change his story. “I’ve been called a liar for many years,” he said. “People have asked me, Why don’t you just do yourself a favour and tell them what they want to hear? “I cannot remember an exact name but it’s been suggested quite few times over the years.” The coroner asked him if he had ever changed his story. “No, sir,” Mr Filmer said.

Taken from a Surrey Police video walk through showing the tree, far right, where the body of Pte Geoff Gray was eventually found

Earlier, the inquest heard how his account of events had in fact changed over the years and differed significantly from the people he was with on the night. He told the court he no longer believed a Fijian soldier who was guarding the same gate at Pte Gray was a madman and a psychopath. Bridget Dolan QC told Mr Filmer, Epi Naiova also denied ever saying he was ready to kill. “I can’t respond to that,” Mr Filmer said. “My recollection it’s what he said.” He could not explain why he only remembered months later thinking he weapon the Fijian soldier was holding was warm. “Some months later, I recall the weapon feeling unusually warm which I can’t account for.” Ms Dolan asked him why he failed to mention the warm gun when he gave his first witness statement. “I can’t really explain. “I may have chose to believe that somebody wouldn’t be that stupid.” Ms Dolan asked him if his opinion of the Fijian solider had changed. “Later on in your accounts, you describe him as menacing, psychopathic and a madman.” “I can’t imagine what I was thinking or why I would have said that,” Mr Filmer said.

Geoff Gray

Surrey Police videotaped the former Lance Corporal retracing the route he said the search party took when they were looking for the missing Pte Gray. The video was shown in court. The other two men in the group, John Liggins and Tony Griffiths, made similar video recordings with police detectives in 2002. Mr Filmer said the group twice walked through the site where Pte Gray was later found. Mr Liggins and Mr Griffiths both said they took a shortcut which meant they failed to spot his body. Ms Dolan asked for the video to be stopped after Mr Filmer led the detectives past the tree where the body of Pte Gray was found. “You walked past the tree where he was found,” she asked. “At that time we hadn’t found anything, so I just carried on walking,” Mr Filmer said. “We certainly, all three of us, on the first sweep, passed that area.” In the poilce video, Mr Filmer can be heard saying: “I gave a challenge, no response. “I gave him a little kick. “He was slightly off the tree. Head facing he fence. Torch out, saw the blood. “Shouted out man down. “I made the weapon safe, placed it back where I found it. “I could have sworn the change lever was on repetition. “You always check. “If it was still on automatic, I would have subconsciously changed it back. “I thought it had a faint pulse, I tried to give a little bit of mouth to mouth. “There was a large amount of blood coming out of the back of his head. “Later I discovered there was blood all over the weapon.” Mr Filmer said Pte Liggins was distraught at having missed the body on the first search. “I said I know where we’ve been,” Mr Filmer said. Ms Dolan asked him if he could have been mistaken on the position of the SA-80 rifle change lever. “It’s possible, I’m human,” Mr Filmer said.

Craig Filmer

News of the World

Mr Filmer, who was awarded the MBE for his service in Iraq, said his green commando beret always attracted attention and Pte Gray had been bending his ear about his possible career path during the guard shift. A second inquest into his death was ordered after the High Court ruled it was in the public interest. An open verdict recorded in 2002 by royal coroner Michael Burgess was quashed. Ms Dolan asked Mr Filmer about an article in the new defunct News of the World newspaper which he contributed to. The Sunday paper quoted him in September 2002 after obtaining some of his police statements, Ms Dolan said. “They made it clear they had my statements,” Mr Filmer said. “They were asking to use my name. “I discussed with my chain of command. “They agreed I could allow the News of the World to use extracts they had possession of.” Ms Dolan asked him if he had received any payment for the newspaper piece. “After, when a complaint had gone in, they apologised and made a small financial contribution to me, £2,000 or £3,000. “It wasn’t much.” Surrey Police and the British army have always maintained Pte Gray took his own life. The inquest continues.