Deepcut Inquest: Soldier Says He Heard Gunshots On Night Trainee Died

A soldier who heard gunshots on the night a recruit was killed just days after 9/11 feared his military base was "under attack", an inquest has heard.

Epi Naiova was a private on guard duty at Deepcut Barracks with Private Geoff Gray when the 17-year-old suffered two gunshot wounds to his head in September 2001.

He gave evidence at a fresh inquest into the trainee's death, during which he denied claims he said "I'm ready to kill" after shots went off at the Surrey base.

Corporal Naiova told Woking Coroner's Court on Wednesday: "I thought we were under attack since we were guarding the officers' mess and, since it's like five days after 9/11, our security status was high.

"I cocked my weapon ... I made my weapon ready. I was laying down on my belly buckle facing toward where the sound came from.

"I was shocked and a bit panicking as well."

He remembered hearing what "sounded like automatic shots fired" around five minutes after the teenager had gone on patrol alone, the inquest heard.

Cpl Naiova said he also considered the possibility Pte Gray had tripped or had an accident.

John Cooper QC, representing the Gray family, asked:

"The furthest thing from your mind here was suicide wasn't it?"

Cpl Naiova replied: "That's true."

Craig Filmer, then a corporal, said in a police interview he heard Cpl Naiova say "I'm ready to kill" after the gunshots went off, the inquest heard.

L/Cpl Filmer also asserted the SA80 automatic rifle Cpl Naiova was holding was warm.

Both allegations were strongly denied by Cpl Naiova on Wednesday.

Mr Cooper said to Cpl Naiova: "Cpl Filmer arrived on the scene didn't he? You were out of control, weren't you?

"You said 'I'm ready to kill' didn't you, to Filmer?"

Cpl Naiova replied: "I didn't say that word sir. And I was not out of control. I knew what I was doing."

Mr Cooper went on: "When Filmer took your weapon off you was it warm, had you fired it?"

Cpl Naoiva said: "No sir. He's got it wrong."

Coroner Peter Rook QC has ruled there’s no "proper evidential foundation" for suggesting Cpl Naiova shot Pte Gray and no evidence he was with the teenager at the time of his death.

The inquest heard there is "clear evidence" the SA80 rifle found next to Pte Gray was used to kill him and no evidence Cpl Naiova ever had that rifle in his possession.

WATCH: Forces News reporter Rosie Laydon has been following the inquest.

Cpl Naiova said he was on guard duty with Pte Gray and Private Fay Mulraine in the early hours of September 17 when Pte Gray went alone on a "quick five-minute patrol".

He told the hearing:

"I was surprised. We were just sitting quietly because it was a quiet night and he just said 'I'm going to do a quick five-minute patrol around the perimeter'.

"I actually said to him 'Geoff, you can't go alone you need to go with someone' and he said 'no I'll just do a quick five-minute patrol and I'll come back'."

The family of Pte Gray believes a third party may have shot the teenager, of Hackney, east London.

In 2002, a coroner recorded an open verdict in the first inquest into the death of Pte Gray.

The new inquest is happening because then Attorney General Jeremy Wright said he was satisfied fresh evidence had come to light.

Pte Gray, originally from County Durham, was one of four young privates to die at Princess Royal Barracks between 1995 and 2002 amid claims of bullying and abuse.

Sean Benton, 20, Cheryl James, 18, and James Collinson, 17, also died from gunshot wounds.

The inquest continues.