Deepcut death of Cheryl James 'may not have been suicide'

There may have been "third-party involvement" in the death of a teenage soldier at an army base in Surrey 20 years ago, an inquest has heard.

Cheryl James, 18, from Llangollen, Denbighshire, was found shot dead at Deepcut barracks in November 1995.

The army had said the gun wound to her head was self-inflicted, but in 1995 a coroner recorded an open verdict.

Lawyers for Surrey Police told a new inquest suggestions Pte James might not have killed herself were speculative.

Pte James was one of four army recruits to die at the barracks between 1995 and 2002 amid claims of bullying and abuse.

Pte Cheryl James died at Deepcut Barracks in Surrey in 1995

Alison Foster QC, acting of behalf of human rights organisation Liberty and representing Pte James's family, said: "Now there is distinguished pathological evidence showing that the shot that killed Cheryl James may not have been self-inflicted.

"Third party involvement is more than merely speculative, according to this inquest's pathologist. It's important such evidence is fully acquired and assimilated."

'Not unfair'

She argued any scientific evidence should be heard before other witnesses to set out what was possible.

But coroner Brian Barker QC refused the request, telling the Woking inquest there was no "practical unfairness" in scientific experts being heard later in the proceedings.

Lawyers representing the Ministry of Defence and Surrey Police, which investigated the death, had argued against the adjournment.

Des James says his daughter, Cheryl, was someone who easily made friends

John Beggs QC, representing Surrey Police, said the suggestion of third-party involvement was "speculative in the extreme".

'Mentioned shooting herself'

Evidence Pte James was a "troubled young lady who might have had suicidal thoughts " had "intensified" since Nicholas Blake QC's review of the case, he said.

Mr Beggs added a review of the case, in 2006, had heard Pte James had talked about the death of another recruit, Pte Sean Benton, while on lone guard duty and she had "mentioned shooting herself around this time".

"She had personal problems in her private life to resolve," he said. "There was an absence of any reason why this popular young woman would be subjected to an attack by another."

Privates Benton, James, Gray and Collinson, all died at Deepcut between 1995 and 2002

Who were the Deepcut four? Background to the deaths and timeline of events

She was found at the base with a single bullet wound to her head.

Mr Barker has said he will not consider allegations of a culture of abuse at the base during the inquest - granted by the High Court in 2014 as a result of the emergence of new evidence - although he will explore "the impact of any sexual abuse against Cheryl on her state of mind".

At the resumption of the hearing, at Woking Coroner's Court, Ms Foster told the coroner: "The family has at all times sought to assist you with regards to forensics and ballistics. It is not fair or practical to start this inquest other than with the scientific evidence."

She said Pte James's father Des, who is scheduled to be the first witness to give evidence to the hearing, was "desperately eager" for the inquest to start, but the delay was "essential".

The inquest is expected to last seven weeks and hear evidence from more than 100 people.