Coroner to record verdict on Deepcut soldier's death

Private Gray was found with two gunshot wounds to the head. Credit: PA

A County Durham family whose son was found with fatal gunshot wounds at Deepcut barracks are among those waiting to hear the findings of an inquest into a fellow private’s death today.

Coroner Judge Brian Barker QC is due to record his conclusion into the death of 18-year-old soldier Cheryl James, from Llangollen, Denbighshire, who was found with a bullet wound to the head at the Surrey camp in 1995.

Three other recruits, Privates Sean Benton, James Collinson and Geoff Gray, from Seaham, County Durham, also died from gunshot wounds between 1995 and 2002.

Pte Geoff Gray was 17 when his body was discovered in 2001. Parents Geoff, 52, and Diane, 51, have fought alongside the other families for a public inquiry into the cases and also hope for new inquests for each one.

The initial inquest into Private James's death recorded an open verdict but her parents, Des and Doreen James, campaigned tirelessly for a new hearing.

High Court judges quashed the original findings and a second inquest was held in Woking sitting for 30 days over three months and hearing from 109 witnesses.

Judge Barker promised a "full, frank and fearless" investigation but he ruled out looking at allegations of sexual abuse and bullying that may have occurred at the barracks before her death.

Ahead of the inquest Mr James said: "The Deepcut situation is the tip of the iceberg. We have got to get to the bottom of what happened. I want justice for all four of them."

The inquest exposed flaws in the investigations into Private James' death by both the Army and Surrey Police - both of which apologised to the family during the hearing.

Pte James was found dead in a copse at around 8.30am on November 27 1995, a rifle and spent cartridge by her side, not far from the Royal Way Gate where she had been on lone guard duty.

On Friday at a hearing beginning at 11am, Mr Barker will give his findings as to how and why her life ended there.

His conclusions could prompt families of the other three Deepcut recruits that died to initiate their own legal actions.