Summary

  • Coroner concludes Pte Cheryl James' death at the Deepcut barracks in Surrey in 1995 was suicide

  • Bullet wound to the head 'was self-inflicted'

  • Army apologises for failings at Deepcut in 1995

  • Coroner highlights overwhelming evidence of a "sexualised" atmosphere at Deepcut

  • Pte James was one of four young recruits who died at Deepcut between 1995 and 2002

  • Updates on Friday 3 June 2016

Live Reporting

Tanya Gupta

  1. 'Fearless investigation'

    The inquest began in February and has taken evidence from 109 people including nine expert witnesses.

    Graphic

    At the start of the hearing, Coroner Brian Barker QC promised a full, frank and fearless investigation into the teenager's death.

  2. 'Pressures on Surrey force'

    BBC Home Affairs correspondent June Kelly is at the inquest where she has reported on the pressures on Surrey Police during the Deepcut investigation.

  3. The Deepcut Four: 'Doors open' for families

    Diane Gray, mother of Private Geoff Gray who also died at the barracks, is at the inquest to hear the findings.

    Diane GrayPA

    She has said the inquest "opens the doors" for the families of other victims to find out what happened to their loved ones.

    And she said she was now applying for the verdict on her own son's death to be overturned.

  4. Surrey Police apologise to family

    Surrey Police has apologised to the family of Cheryl James over questioning by their barrister during the inquest.

    In a statement, the force said: "The new inquest was the direct result of the understandable campaign by the family of Private Cheryl James to seek answers to how Private James died.

    "They have shown admirable resilience throughout their long search for answers.

    "Any additional stress caused to the family during the inquest was not intentional and we apologise for any ways they feel Surrey Police made the experience worse."

  5. 'Patience and fortitude'

    BBC Home Affairs producer Daniel De Simone reports on the coroner's praise for the James family.

  6. Found in woodland

    Pte Cheryl James was found dead with a bullet through her forehead in woodland outside the barracks in November 1995.

    Deepcut woodsMOD Police
    Deepcut barracks, pictured in 2002PA

    The Army said she had killed herself but a first inquest recorded an open verdict.

    This second inquest in Woking was ordered after High Court judges quashed the original findings.

  7. Family awaiting verdict

    Des and Doreen James, parents of Private Cheryl James, arrived earlier at Woking Coroner's Court. 

    Des and Doreen JamesPA

    The coroner Brian Barker QC is now delivering the long-awaited ruling into how their teenage daughter died.

  8. First investigation criticised

    Paul Heaney tweets:

  9. Inquest schedule

    Coroner Brian Barker QC has started delivering his findings.

    Brian Barker QCPA

    That is expected to take him about three hours, after which the conclusions will be posted online.

    BBC reporter Paul Heaney says it's about 100 pages.

  10. 'Ten-year wait'

    BBC reporter Paul Heaney is at the hearing and has tweeted about the family's long wait for answers.

  11. Four gunshot deaths

    Between 1995 and 2002, four young Army recruits died from gunshot wounds in unexplained circumstances at the Deepcut barracks in Surrey.

    Graphic

    The Army insisted the deaths were all suicides, but each of the families disagreed. This a  second inquest into the death of one of the young soldiers Private Cheryl James.

  12. Good morning

    Tanya Gupta

    Good morning. I'll be bringing you the latest updates from the Deepcut inquest, where Coroner Brian Barker QC will be giving his findings on the death of Pte Cheryl James. 

    You can follow the developments by using #Deepcut on Twitter.