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New evidence may show Deepcut soldier did not shoot herself, inquest hears

New scientific evidence has shown a teenage soldier found dead at an army barracks more than 20 years ago may not have killed herself, an inquest has heard.

A fresh inquest is due to take place into the death of Private Cheryl James, 18, who was discovered with a fatal bullet wound at Deepcut Barracks in Surrey in November 1995 - one of four recruits to die there over a seven-year period.

At a hearing at Woking Coroner's Court in Surrey, lawyers for Pte James's family called for the inquest to be delayed by a few weeks to allow "important" pathological evidence to be properly considered.

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Deepcut inquest will not consider 'sex abuse culture' claims

A second inquest into the death of a young soldier at a Deepcut army barracks in 1995 will not consider whether it had "a culture of sexual abuse", a coroner has said.

The Deepcut Barracks in Surrey. Credit: PA

Brian Barker QC said that evidence Pte James may have been sexually abused at the time of her death fell within the scope of the inquest.

But he added that it was not within the inquest's scope to consider "whether there was a culture of sexual abuse at Deepcut Barracks, including the sexually inappropriate treatment of female recruits within the chain of command".

Des James, father of Private Cheryl James, arrives at Woking Coroner's Court Credit: PA

"This is not a public inquiry into the culture at Deepcut in mid-1990s," Mr Barker told the inquest.

"Any allegation of previous sexual harassment or abuse will fall out of scope of the inquest and cannot be pursued by questioning", he said.

The ruling would remain under review "as the evidence develops" during the seven-week inquest, he added.

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New evidence may show Deepcut soldier did not shoot herself, inquest hears

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