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New inquest sought for TA soldier | New inquest sought for TA soldier |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The family of a Territorial Army soldier who died of heatstroke in Iraq are to seek a judicial review to get a fresh inquest into his death. | The family of a Territorial Army soldier who died of heatstroke in Iraq are to seek a judicial review to get a fresh inquest into his death. |
Lawyers for the family of Private Jason Smith, from Hawick, said more soldiers could die if lessons were not learned. | Lawyers for the family of Private Jason Smith, from Hawick, said more soldiers could die if lessons were not learned. |
Pte Smith, 32, fell ill in temperatures of 60C (140F) and died in August 2003 at the Al Amara stadium, southern Iraq. | Pte Smith, 32, fell ill in temperatures of 60C (140F) and died in August 2003 at the Al Amara stadium, southern Iraq. |
Andrew Walker, Oxfordshire's assistant deputy coroner, recorded a narrative verdict at an inquest last November. | Andrew Walker, Oxfordshire's assistant deputy coroner, recorded a narrative verdict at an inquest last November. |
He said Pte Smith's death was "caused by a serious failure to recognise and take appropriate steps to address the difficulty that he had in adjusting to the climate." | He said Pte Smith's death was "caused by a serious failure to recognise and take appropriate steps to address the difficulty that he had in adjusting to the climate." |
Internal report | Internal report |
But the Smith family said the verdict was inadequate and a new inquest was needed to establish the full facts. | But the Smith family said the verdict was inadequate and a new inquest was needed to establish the full facts. |
They are also threatening legal action against the Ministry of Defence to force it to release an internal report into the death. | They are also threatening legal action against the Ministry of Defence to force it to release an internal report into the death. |
Witnesses have told BBC Radio Four's File On Four requests to provide air conditioning went unheeded and Pte Smith was not given oxygen which could have saved his life. | Witnesses have told BBC Radio Four's File On Four requests to provide air conditioning went unheeded and Pte Smith was not given oxygen which could have saved his life. |
One soldier left permanently disabled by heatstroke said officers threatened to cut leave if any more soldiers reported sick with heatstroke. | One soldier left permanently disabled by heatstroke said officers threatened to cut leave if any more soldiers reported sick with heatstroke. |
An MoD statement said it was unhelpful to re-examine facts that had already been looked at by a coroner. | |
Hear the full story on Radio 4: File on 4 Tue 30 Jan 2000 GMT or online at the File on 4 website | Hear the full story on Radio 4: File on 4 Tue 30 Jan 2000 GMT or online at the File on 4 website |
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