Royal officer 'took blast force'

Maj Alexis Roberts was married with two children

An army officer took "the full force" of an explosion that killed him in Afghanistan an inquest has heard.

Maj Alexis Roberts, 32, from Kent, died when a device hidden in a road exploded while he was returning to Kandahar Airfield in a Pinzgauer Vector vehicle.

The inquest heard the blast left a 4ft crater in the vehicle, blowing it into the air.

Prince William was said to be "deeply saddened" by the death of his Sandhurst platoon commander on 4 October, 2007.

Wiltshire Coroner David Masters said: "Major Roberts took the full force of that explosion and must have died instantly."

Our thoughts and sympathies remain with the family and friends of Major Alexis Roberts at this very difficult time Ministry of Defence

The hearing at Trowbridge town hall was told the device had been packed into a cooking pot buried in the road.

Communications specialist Staff Sgt David Smyth said the convoy's communications kit had not working properly.

He said a post incident report called for two secure Iridium satellite phones to accompany such operations in the future, which Maj Roberts' 30-vehicle convoy did not have.

The coroner recorded a verdict of unlawful killing.

Mr Masters said: "The protection of our troops is of paramount importance and the Ministry of Defence takes all available measures to minimise the risks through provision of the best equipment, training and procedures to meet our operational commitments."

The Major was an instructor at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst between December 2004 until 2006.

The Royal Gurkha Rifles officer is survived by his wife Susie and their two daughters.

A Ministry of Defence spokeswoman said: "Our thoughts and sympathies remain with the family and friends of Major Alexis Roberts at this very difficult time.

"We are immensely saddened by his death from an attack by insurgents in Afghanistan.