MoD censured over marine's death

Wayne Richards was killed when live rounds were mixed with blanks

The MoD has been censured under the Health and Safety at Work Act following the death of a Royal Marine in Devon.

Wayne Richards, 17, was shot dead in March 2000 when live ammunition got mixed up with blanks during a night training exercise at Woodbury Common.

The Crown Censure hearing on Wednesday concluded there were shortcomings in the management system at the Lympstone Commando Training Centre Royal Marines.

The MoD told the hearing action had already been taken to improve safety.

It was supposed to be a failsafe system, but it was not adhered to Alan Richards

A Crown Censure is an internal process to deal with cases which cannot be heard in court because the organisation involved is a crown body.

Wayne's father, Alan Richards, says the censure was an admission and is again calling for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to re-examine the case.

He said: "I'm not happy for it to end here. If it wasn't for the crown immunity for the marines, they could have been in court on criminal charges.

"I'm happy to hear about the improvements, but in March 2000 the system was in place. It was supposed to be a failsafe system, but it was not adhered to.

"It's been a long drawn-out process and it's been absolutely horrendous, but from here I'll go back to my solicitor and QC."

Court martial

No-one has faced criminal charges over Wayne's death, in March 2000, when live ammunition had been mixed up with blanks.

The CPS decided there was insufficient evidence to proceed with a criminal prosecution against two members of the training team.

At a court martial in December 2003, the officer in charge of the night exercise, Captain Gareth Pearson, pleaded guilty to two offences of disobeying standing orders.

He was fined £1,400, deprived of seniority as a captain for two years, and reprimanded.