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Family may be granted fresh Deepcut inquest into Sean Benton death Family may be granted fresh Deepcut inquest into Sean Benton death
(2 months later)
The family of a second young soldier who died at Deepcut barracks in Surrey might be granted a second inquest into his death.The family of a second young soldier who died at Deepcut barracks in Surrey might be granted a second inquest into his death.
The brother and sister of Pte Sean Benton who was found with five bullet wounds to his chest at the base 21 years ago have been given permission to apply to the high court for the original inquest to be quashed and a fresh one ordered.The brother and sister of Pte Sean Benton who was found with five bullet wounds to his chest at the base 21 years ago have been given permission to apply to the high court for the original inquest to be quashed and a fresh one ordered.
The coroner at the first inquest held in July 1995, a month after Benton’s death, recorded a verdict of suicide. Benton’s family estimate the inquest took less than two hours and say it heard from six people. A criminal investigation by Surrey police seven years later found no evidence of third-party involvement.The coroner at the first inquest held in July 1995, a month after Benton’s death, recorded a verdict of suicide. Benton’s family estimate the inquest took less than two hours and say it heard from six people. A criminal investigation by Surrey police seven years later found no evidence of third-party involvement.
Benton, 20, from Hastings, Sussex, was the first of four young recruits to die from gunshot wounds at Deepcut between 1995 and 2002. The attorney general Jeremy Wright QC cleared the way for the high court application less than two weeks after a three-month inquest into the death of 18-year-old Pte Cheryl James in November 1995 concluded that she had shot herself.Benton, 20, from Hastings, Sussex, was the first of four young recruits to die from gunshot wounds at Deepcut between 1995 and 2002. The attorney general Jeremy Wright QC cleared the way for the high court application less than two weeks after a three-month inquest into the death of 18-year-old Pte Cheryl James in November 1995 concluded that she had shot herself.
Related: Deepcut inquest: armed and alone in an 'out of control' barracks
Benton’s twin brother, Tony, and his sister Tracey Lewis, applied last year. As in James’s case, the application for a new inquest was only possible because Benton’s mother, Linda, who died last year, used the Human Rights Act to persuade Surrey police to disclose evidence about her son’s death. She had been supported by the human rights charity Liberty.Benton’s twin brother, Tony, and his sister Tracey Lewis, applied last year. As in James’s case, the application for a new inquest was only possible because Benton’s mother, Linda, who died last year, used the Human Rights Act to persuade Surrey police to disclose evidence about her son’s death. She had been supported by the human rights charity Liberty.
Lewis, Benton’s older sister, said: “We have been overwhelmed and disturbed by all the details of the shameful environment at Deepcut which have finally come to light through the Cheryl James inquest. It is terrible to think of Sean alone there.Lewis, Benton’s older sister, said: “We have been overwhelmed and disturbed by all the details of the shameful environment at Deepcut which have finally come to light through the Cheryl James inquest. It is terrible to think of Sean alone there.
“More than two decades after our brother died – and having lost both our parents in recent years – Tony and I are determined to find out what happened to Sean.”“More than two decades after our brother died – and having lost both our parents in recent years – Tony and I are determined to find out what happened to Sean.”
Emma Norton, the family’s solicitor from Liberty, said: “Sean’s family have waited 21 years for this moment – and it is a source of immense sadness that his parents are not here to take this vital next step in their search for justice.”Emma Norton, the family’s solicitor from Liberty, said: “Sean’s family have waited 21 years for this moment – and it is a source of immense sadness that his parents are not here to take this vital next step in their search for justice.”
The two other young soldiers who died from gunshot wounds were Pte Geoff Gray, from Hackney, east London, who was found dead with two wounds to his head in September 2001, and Pte James Collinson, 17, from Perth, Scotland, who was found with a single shotgun wound through his chin in March 2002.The two other young soldiers who died from gunshot wounds were Pte Geoff Gray, from Hackney, east London, who was found dead with two wounds to his head in September 2001, and Pte James Collinson, 17, from Perth, Scotland, who was found with a single shotgun wound through his chin in March 2002.
The inquest into James’s death, which ended earlier this month, concluded there had been a highly sexualised and alcohol fuelled environment at the barracks.The inquest into James’s death, which ended earlier this month, concluded there had been a highly sexualised and alcohol fuelled environment at the barracks.