Deepcut army deaths were not suicide, says top pathologist

A leading Home Office pathologist has cast serious doubt over Ministry of Defence claims that the deaths of two teenage soldiers at Deepcut barracks were suicides. The news comes as evidence emerges that the army base was used to debrief secret service officers.

A total of four young recruits have died from gunshot wounds in mysterious circumstances at Deepcut in Surrey over the past seven years, including Privates James Collinson and Geoff Gray. Dr Richard Shepherd, an expert in gunshot wounds, said in a television interview that the wounds received by the two 17-year-olds were unlikely to have been self-inflicted.

"From a pathologist's point of view I don't think we could make the assumption that it was an obvious suicide," he told the BBC's Frontline Scotland programme. "We simply cannot say [these] were classical suicidal injuries."

His claims are supported by Frank Swann, an independent ballistics expert, who has already said that Private Gray could not have killed himself. Families of the dead men are accusing the MoD of a cover-up and will use the experts' evidence to put pressure on the Government to launch a public inquiry into the deaths.

Military sources said that Deepcut was used during the 1980s to debrief former secret service personnel who had served in Northern Ireland and needed rehabilitation.

Senior detectives from Surrey police have now been called in to investigate claims that the dead soldiers may have been murdered.

Last week, a Home Office pathologist exhumed the body of Private Collinson to look for vital new evidence. The body of the teenager from Perth, Scotland, was found in March this year with two bullet wounds to his head. The Surrey coroner is also gathering fresh evidence into the death of a female soldier found hanging from a door at Dalton barracks in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, on Saturday. Alison Croft, the dead woman, had no direct connection with Deepcut barracks but her colleagues would have socialised with staff at the base.

The MoD has consistently claimed that the deaths of all the Deepcut victims were suicides. But the families said they have received allegations of bullying at the barracks as well as verbal and sexual harassment. At least three of the victims died from multiple gunshot wounds which is unusual in suicide cases. At least 100 MPs have now signed a motion calling for a public inquiry and the Defence Select Committee is considering carrying out its own investigation into bullying in the army.

The deaths of these young soldiers raise questions about the culture of the army. Figures show that over the past eight years there had been numerous deaths in army barracks but little or no action had been taken and no proper records had been kept. Since 1994, nearly 100 members of the armed forces have been killed through "firearms incidents" and a further 156 have committed suicide. In 2000, 192 army court martial cases involved "forms of violent crime" and 34 concerned "forms of sexual crime".

All the dead privates were at the start of their army careers but several were already facing uncertain futures. Friends of Pte Collinson say he was the target of bullying and Pte Sean Benton was on the verge of being discharged from the army for breach of discipline.

However, there is nothing in the personal history of Pte Gray to suggest he would take his own life – no broken relationships, no history of depression. In fact, Pte Gray was so enthusiastic about army life that his parents had trouble stopping him talking about his experiences. "He was a typical 17-year-old party animal. My son did not shoot himself – he was murdered," said Mr Gray.

All the anecdotal evidence suggests someone else fired the shots which ended the teenager's life. At least four witnesses saw a figure running from where Pte Gray's body was found. There is also evidence that someone moved his body.

"Maybe he stood up to a bully and paid the ultimate price," said Mr Gray from Hackney, London. "In the army as soon as you are dead your number is scratched out. But the army had a duty of care for my child."

Mr Gray is no conspiracy theorist but he still cannot explain a bizarre incident which happened three weeks ago while he was asleep in bed. His anxious neighbour contacted him to say he had disturbed two men in suits standing on Mr Gray's porch. They had removed their shoes to muffle the sound of footsteps. The men claimed to be on confidential business and told the neighbour to "move along".

Girish Thanki, the solicitor representing the families of the dead soldiers, said the cases highlight the need for reform of an oppressive and backward army culture. "If we want to send soldiers off to Iraq we have to look at how they are treated at home," he said. "This may be a problem of culture; there may be something endemically wrong."

Michael Hancock, a member of the Defence Select Committee, said the behaviour of the MoD was "beyond belief". "If no charges are forthcoming from the ongoing police inquiry, there is a very strong possibility that an official inquiry will take place," said the Liberal Democrat MP. "I would be very surprised if there were not some serious questions being asked within the Ministry of Defence. Their behaviour has been beyond belief."

Private Sean Benton Age 20, Royal Logistics Corps of Hastings, East Sussex, found dead on 9 June 1995 with gunshot wounds at Princess Royal Barracks, Deepcut, Surrey. Surrey coroner Michael Burgess recorded a verdict of suicide on Pte Benton, who was being discharged after discipline problems, saying: "His discharge would have been a very severe blow. In broad terms the army was his whole life."

Private Cheryl James Age 18, of Llangollen, Gwent, killed on 27 November 1995 by single bullet wound to the head. Pte James had been a qualified soldier for only four months and was found in wooded area near the home of the Training Regiment and depot of Royal Logistic Corps at Deepcut. Her father said: "We have never been able to accept that Cheryl killed herself." The coroner recorded an open verdict.

Private Geoff Gray Age 17, of Seaham, Co Durham, killed on 2 October 2001 with five bullets to the head while on night-time guard duty. Witnesses said they had seen a person running from the scene. Pte Gray's parents claimed: "Somebody knows who killed my son." Coroner Michael Burgess recorded an open verdict and said: "I do not find that he took his own life."

Private James Collinson Age 17, from Perth, Scotland, found dead on 26 March this year with two gunshots to the head amid claims that he was being bullied. His father refused to accept the possibility of suicide saying: "I have no doubts my son was murdered." An inquest will take place after forensic investigation on his exhumed body.

Private David Shipley Age 20, from Barrow-in-Furness, found unconscious and face down in an assault course pool in Germany on 17 August this year – days after he left Deepcut. An inquest has been opened but will not be concluded for several months.

Private Alison Croft Age 22, from Bradford, found hanged at Dalton barracks in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, on 2 October 2002. Although Pte Croft had no official connection with Deepcut, officers from the two barracks socialised together. An inquest was opened last week.