Deepcut deaths 'not suicide'

The families have taken their concerns to Parliament

At least two of the four young soldiers said to have committed suicide at the Army's Deepcut barracks did not kill themselves, a forensic investigator has claimed.

Frank Swann, who was employed by the bereaved families, said the fatal injuries to Privates Sean Benton and Geoff Gray were not self inflicted.

Mr Swann said he is also 70% sure that Private James Collinson did not cause the injuries which killed him and that further tests were needed in both his case and that of Private Cheryl James.

Ms James's parents, Des and Doreen, said: "It remains our opinion that only a public inquiry will ever allow the death of our daughter, and the other three young boys to be fully and independently examined."

The police have given me no updates to bring me up to speed

Frank Swann

The bereaved families refuse to accept the explanation that the soldiers, who died between 1995 and March of this year, shot themselves and have accused the Army of a cover-up.

On Wednesday it emerged that detectives were unable to work out whether Privates Geoff Gray and Jim Collinson were murdered, or if they committed suicide.

'Passive obstruction'

Mr Swann reached his conclusions by looking at photographs of the four and conducting tests on a firing range.

Private Collinson, 17, was found dead at the barracks in March.

He also visited the Surrey barracks to see it first hand and meet officers, after being given permission by Armed Forces minister Adam Ingram.

Mr Swann said he is encountering 'passive obstruction' from Surrey Police, who are also investigating the deaths.

He said: "The police have given me no updates to bring me up to speed and have not given me vital documentation.

"I've got sets of photographs of two of the deceased, but I need the other two."

The father of 17-year-old Geoff Gray, also called Geoff, said: "If police are being obstructive, I find that very annoying."

Report requested

A spokesman for Surrey police dismissed Mr Swann's criticisms, claiming it had "extended every possible assistance" to him, including a meeting with its ballistics expert.

He added: "We have requested a report on his findings and details of his methodology, and he has consistently failed to provide this."

The force also criticised Mr Swann for publishing his findings before they had had a chance to consider them.

The parents of Cheryl James, who was 18 when she died, said that police had agreed to include Mr Swann's findings in their investigation.

But they added: "The problem when you have more than one expert opinion is that they may, as in this case, not concur.

"We have asked Surrey Police to bring the experts together to try and obtain a consensus."

The four soldiers are:

• Private Benton, 20, from Hastings, East Sussex, who died in June 1995.
• Private Cheryl James, 18, from Llangollen, Gwent, who died in November 1995.
• Private Geoff Gray, 17, from Hackney, east London, who died in September 2001.
• Private James Collinson, 17, from Perth, who died in March 2002.