Forensic Pathologists Give Evidence Over Soldier's Death

Ranger Michael Maguire died six years ago.

Two forensic pathologists have given evidence at the court-martial of an officer charged with manslaughter due to gross negligence over the death of a soldier at a shooting range in south Wales six years ago.

Captain Jonathan Price denies the charge.

Ranger Michael Maguire died after being shot during a live fire exercise on Castlemartin Ranges in south Wales in May 2012.

Captain Price planned the exercise - the prosecution allege he had positioned targets outside the known safe arcs of fire putting Ranger Maguire and others in danger.

The court heard from Dr Andrew Davidson, the forensic pathologist who carried out the post-mortem.

In his report, he said the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the forehead.

The prosecution allege the fatal shot was fired from a general-purpose machine gun operated from an adjacent range under the close supervision of Captain Price.

However, another forensic pathologist, Dr Jack Crane, said it would be inaccurate to use the size of that gunshot wound to determine exactly what type of bullet caused the injury.

Asked by Mr Sherrington, defence counsel for Captain Price, to what extent it could be concluded that a 7.62mm round, the type of bullets used in the general-purpose machine gun, had caused the wound, Dr Crane replied: "In my opinion, you can't conclude that."

Captain Price denies manslaughter due to gross negligence.

Two others, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Bell and Warrant Officer Class 2 Stuart Pankhurst, deny charges of negligently performing a duty.

The court-martial continues tomorrow.