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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan deaths: Inquest due for Royal Marine and Army medic | Afghanistan deaths: Inquest due for Royal Marine and Army medic |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| An inquest into the deaths of two British soldiers killed in a suspected insider attack by an off-duty Afghan policeman is due to open. | An inquest into the deaths of two British soldiers killed in a suspected insider attack by an off-duty Afghan policeman is due to open. |
| Northern Irish medic Cpl Channing Day, and Cpl David O'Connor, of 40 Commando, from Hampshire, died in a gun battle in Helmand province last year. | Northern Irish medic Cpl Channing Day, and Cpl David O'Connor, of 40 Commando, from Hampshire, died in a gun battle in Helmand province last year. |
| An Afghan man, who was not part of their patrol, also died. | An Afghan man, who was not part of their patrol, also died. |
| An initial Ministry of Defence report suggested the soldiers were not killed by British forces. | An initial Ministry of Defence report suggested the soldiers were not killed by British forces. |
| Cpl O'Connor, 27, and Cpl Day, 25, of 3 Medical Regiment, were on patrol near the village of Char Kutsa, in the Nahr-e Saraj district when they came under fire and were fatally injured. | Cpl O'Connor, 27, and Cpl Day, 25, of 3 Medical Regiment, were on patrol near the village of Char Kutsa, in the Nahr-e Saraj district when they came under fire and were fatally injured. |
| An inquest at Oxford Coroners' Court, opening at 10:00 BST, will seek to determine the exact circumstances surrounding their deaths. | An inquest at Oxford Coroners' Court, opening at 10:00 BST, will seek to determine the exact circumstances surrounding their deaths. |
| 'Terrible tragedy' | 'Terrible tragedy' |
| Immediately after the incident on 23 October last year, Afghan police claimed that both soldiers were shot by their own comrades. | |
| But the Ministry of Defence denied this and Defence Secretary Phillip Hammond confirmed his staff were looking into the possibility the soldiers were shot by a policeman. | But the Ministry of Defence denied this and Defence Secretary Phillip Hammond confirmed his staff were looking into the possibility the soldiers were shot by a policeman. |
| After an initial review of the scene, Nato specialists and Afghan government representatives said the pair had not been not killed by British forces. | After an initial review of the scene, Nato specialists and Afghan government representatives said the pair had not been not killed by British forces. |
| Instead, they are believed to have died at the hands of what the MoD suggested was "a third party or parties whose identities have yet to be established but who are not UK personnel". | Instead, they are believed to have died at the hands of what the MoD suggested was "a third party or parties whose identities have yet to be established but who are not UK personnel". |
| Speaking soon after the deaths, Mr Hammond called the incident a "terrible tragedy". | Speaking soon after the deaths, Mr Hammond called the incident a "terrible tragedy". |
| However, asked if it had been another "green on blue" attack - in which Afghans have turned on their International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) partners - Mr Hammond said: "There is a possibility that that is what has happened but it is not clear at this stage who the shooter actually was." | However, asked if it had been another "green on blue" attack - in which Afghans have turned on their International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) partners - Mr Hammond said: "There is a possibility that that is what has happened but it is not clear at this stage who the shooter actually was." |
| If confirmed, it would mean Cpl Day was the first female victim of such an attack. | If confirmed, it would mean Cpl Day was the first female victim of such an attack. |
| Cpl Day, who was from Comber in County Down, joined the Army in 2005 and was deployed to Afghanistan less than a month before she became the third female British soldier to be killed there since 2001. | Cpl Day, who was from Comber in County Down, joined the Army in 2005 and was deployed to Afghanistan less than a month before she became the third female British soldier to be killed there since 2001. |
| In a statement released on behalf of Cpl Day's family, her sister Lauren said: "There no words to describe our deepest sadness, we are in a state of disbelief and would ask that we are given time and privacy to deal with this. | In a statement released on behalf of Cpl Day's family, her sister Lauren said: "There no words to describe our deepest sadness, we are in a state of disbelief and would ask that we are given time and privacy to deal with this. |
| "Channing loved the Army - if there was one thing she knew growing up, it was that she wanted to be a soldier. | "Channing loved the Army - if there was one thing she knew growing up, it was that she wanted to be a soldier. |
| "She has done more in her 25 years than most women her age and we are so very proud of everything she has achieved." | "She has done more in her 25 years than most women her age and we are so very proud of everything she has achieved." |
| Cpl O'Connor had been in Afghanistan since the end of the previous month and was serving as a section commander in the acting rank of corporal. | Cpl O'Connor had been in Afghanistan since the end of the previous month and was serving as a section commander in the acting rank of corporal. |
| A statement released by Cpl O'Connor's family at the time said: "David's family and friends are greatly saddened by his loss and hope to be left to grieve privately." | A statement released by Cpl O'Connor's family at the time said: "David's family and friends are greatly saddened by his loss and hope to be left to grieve privately." |
| Lt Col Matt Jackson, his commanding officer, said Cpl O'Connor "was one of the best". | Lt Col Matt Jackson, his commanding officer, said Cpl O'Connor "was one of the best". |
| Soon after their deaths, coffins bearing the two soldiers' bodies were flown into RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. | Soon after their deaths, coffins bearing the two soldiers' bodies were flown into RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. |