Police reopen inquiries into deaths of four soldiers

Police are to reopen an investigation into the shootings of two soldiers at a barracks seven years ago.

Privates Sean Benton, who was 20, and Cheryl James, 17, were found dead with gunshot wounds at Deepcut Army barracks in Surrey.

Detectives announced in May that they were to reinvestigate the deaths of Privates Geoff Gray and James Collinson, who were both 17 and who had gunshot wounds to the head, at the Royal Logistic Corps headquarters near Camberley, Surrey. The Army has always maintained that all four deaths were suicides even though two of the three inquests held so far recorded open verdicts.

It is not know what new evidence, if any, has prompted the new inquiry. A spokesman for Surrey police said: "As a result of a review and following a meeting with the families of both Pte Benton and Pte James, it has been decided to reinvestigate their deaths."

Pte James, from Llangollen in north Wales, was found shot in the head in November 1995 next to the perimeter fence, with the rifle that shot the bullet lying beside her.

The body of Pte Benton, from Hastings, was discovered, shot in the chest with an automatic rifle, five months earlier – the day after he was told he was being kicked out of the Army. A coroner recorded a verdict of suicide, even though ballistics evidence showed four of the five shots had been from long range.

Pte Gray, from east London, was found with two bullet wounds in his forehead in September last year. The coroner recorded an open verdict.

Four days after that inquest finished, in March this year, James Collinson was found with a single gunshot wound to his head, apparently after he borrowed a high-powered rifle from a colleague. An inquest into his death is yet to be held.

MPs on the House of Commons' Defence Select Committee opened their own investigation this week into the deaths of the four soldiers, who were all killed while on guard duty.

A friend of Pte James told The Daily Telegraph this week that she had been forced into a sexual relationship with a corporal at the army base. The friend said: "Cheryl would not have had any choice. In the Army when someone tells you what to do you do it."