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Royal Navy sailor threatened senior officer with gun, court martial hears Royal Navy sailor threatened senior officer with gun, court martial hears
(3 months later)
A Royal Navy sailor worried about the impending birth of his child armed himself with a rifle and ammunition and threatened a senior officer with the weapon, a court martial has heard.A Royal Navy sailor worried about the impending birth of his child armed himself with a rifle and ammunition and threatened a senior officer with the weapon, a court martial has heard.
Kevin Moffat demanded to talk to Lieutenant Commander Robert Williams, telling him the SA80 rifle was loaded and cocked, it was claimed.Kevin Moffat demanded to talk to Lieutenant Commander Robert Williams, telling him the SA80 rifle was loaded and cocked, it was claimed.
The incident on board the destroyer HMS Edinburgh has similarities to the fatal shooting of an officer on the nuclear submarine HMS Astute, the hearing in Portsmouth was told.The incident on board the destroyer HMS Edinburgh has similarities to the fatal shooting of an officer on the nuclear submarine HMS Astute, the hearing in Portsmouth was told.
Leading Seaman Moffat, who has served in the navy for 25 years, denies unlawful possession of a firearm and conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline.Leading Seaman Moffat, who has served in the navy for 25 years, denies unlawful possession of a firearm and conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline.
Wing Commander Andrew McKendrick, prosecuting, told the trial that Moffat, 45, who is originally from Edinburgh, was "crash-drafted" – given only short notice before his deployment. His wife was expecting and, having missed the birth of another child because he was away on active duty, was anxious not miss this one.Wing Commander Andrew McKendrick, prosecuting, told the trial that Moffat, 45, who is originally from Edinburgh, was "crash-drafted" – given only short notice before his deployment. His wife was expecting and, having missed the birth of another child because he was away on active duty, was anxious not miss this one.
On 28 September last year while HMS Edinburgh was docked in Lisbon, Portugal, en route to the Falklands, Moffat took a SA80 service rifle and three rounds of ammunition from a weapons store, it was claimed.On 28 September last year while HMS Edinburgh was docked in Lisbon, Portugal, en route to the Falklands, Moffat took a SA80 service rifle and three rounds of ammunition from a weapons store, it was claimed.
He is said to have gone to Williams's cabin and from the doorway allegedly told him: "Sir, you know me, this is a loaded weapon and it's cocked. I want to talk to you."He is said to have gone to Williams's cabin and from the doorway allegedly told him: "Sir, you know me, this is a loaded weapon and it's cocked. I want to talk to you."
Williams, 40, told the court: "He was very intense but his voice was mannered, he wasn't shouting or screaming. He was serious, the way he had been staring at me. It was absolutely untoward, I was shocked."Williams, 40, told the court: "He was very intense but his voice was mannered, he wasn't shouting or screaming. He was serious, the way he had been staring at me. It was absolutely untoward, I was shocked."
The senior officer asked if a woman with whom he was having a meeting, Lieutenant Sadie Gardner, could leave and Moffat agreed. Williams then asked him to hand over the rifle to another serviceman who was just outside the cabin, and Moffat did so.The senior officer asked if a woman with whom he was having a meeting, Lieutenant Sadie Gardner, could leave and Moffat agreed. Williams then asked him to hand over the rifle to another serviceman who was just outside the cabin, and Moffat did so.
Williams said: "I asked him: 'What's going on, what have you done?' He explained that he still hadn't confirmed he could get away for the birth of his kid and he'd had a tough phone call with his missus the previous evening and the pressure was on."Williams said: "I asked him: 'What's going on, what have you done?' He explained that he still hadn't confirmed he could get away for the birth of his kid and he'd had a tough phone call with his missus the previous evening and the pressure was on."
Matthew Farmer, defending, suggested the incident had similarities to the shooting on HMS Astute in April 2011 when Able Seaman Ryan Donovan shot dead Lieutenant Commander Ian Molyneux on board HMS Astute. Donovan has been jailed for life.Matthew Farmer, defending, suggested the incident had similarities to the shooting on HMS Astute in April 2011 when Able Seaman Ryan Donovan shot dead Lieutenant Commander Ian Molyneux on board HMS Astute. Donovan has been jailed for life.
Farmer asked Williams: "Did the HMS Astute incident flash through your mind?" He replied: "I can't be specific about anything like that."Farmer asked Williams: "Did the HMS Astute incident flash through your mind?" He replied: "I can't be specific about anything like that."
Gardner said she had initially thought the incident was an exercise. She added: "Then I realised it wasn't because of his demeanour. When he told me he had a loaded rifle and it was cocked, I thought I was going to get shot.Gardner said she had initially thought the incident was an exercise. She added: "Then I realised it wasn't because of his demeanour. When he told me he had a loaded rifle and it was cocked, I thought I was going to get shot.
I will never forget those words: 'It's loaded'."I will never forget those words: 'It's loaded'."
Moffat claimed he removed the rifle and the three ammunition rounds, which were rusty, from the store to clean them.Moffat claimed he removed the rifle and the three ammunition rounds, which were rusty, from the store to clean them.
He denied threatening Williams and said he told him: "Sir, you know me, this is not a loaded weapon, I want to talk to you."He denied threatening Williams and said he told him: "Sir, you know me, this is not a loaded weapon, I want to talk to you."
The court martial continues.The court martial continues.
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