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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Royal Anglian killed 'unlawfully' | Royal Anglian killed 'unlawfully' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A soldier was killed by a large roadside bomb while returning from a supply mission in Afghanistan, an inquest has heard. | |
| Lance Corporal Alex Hawkins, 22, a sniper in The Royal Anglian Regiment, was killed in the attack in Helmand province on 25 July, last year. | |
| L/Cpl Hawkins was from Dereham. He joined Army Cadets in the Norfolk town. | |
| The inquest, held in Norwich, recorded a verdict of unlawful killing while on active military service. | The inquest, held in Norwich, recorded a verdict of unlawful killing while on active military service. |
| L/Cpl Hawkins had been in the Royal Anglians for four years, serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. | L/Cpl Hawkins had been in the Royal Anglians for four years, serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. |
| 'Large explosive device' | |
| He was part of a convoy which had been delivering rations to a small forward base in Helmand province when his armoured vehicle was blown up by a bomb. | |
| L/Cpl Hawkins died from head and neck injuries a short time later, post-mortem tests found. | |
| Coroner William Armstrong said: "What happened in detail cannot be established, except to say there was a large device under the vehicle. | |
| "Clearly the explosion and the tragic death of Alex came as a result of a large explosive device, effectively blowing up the vehicle, and causing his death." | |
| The inquest heard the explosive left a large crater in front of the vehicle. | |
| The vehicles were driven along a route they had also taken the day before the tragedy, the inquest heard. | |
| One of the most promising soldiers of his generation Lt Col Stuart Carver | |
| After the inquest, Sgt Maj Ian Robinson read a statement on behalf of L/Cpl Hawkins' family. | |
| He said: "They welcome the finding that Alex was killed as a result of enemy action last year. | |
| "He died doing a job he loved, surrounded by his friends. He was an outstanding soldier for the short time he was with us and had an outstanding future ahead of him." | |
| Immediately after the tragedy, Lt Col Stuart Carver described L/Cpl Hawkins as "one of the most promising soldiers of his generation". |