Private Geoff Gray: Coroner Rules Deepcut Army Recruit's Death Was Suicide

A coroner has ruled the death of an Army recruit at Deepcut Barracks nearly 18 years ago was suicide.

Private Geoff Gray, 17, was found with two gunshot wounds to the head in the early hours of 17 September 2001 after going on patrol alone.

Five spent cartridges were found next to his body.

Pte Gray was the third of four young recruits to die at the Army training centre in Surrey between 1995 and 2002.

Sean Benton, 20, Cheryl James, 18, and James Collinson, 17, also died from gunshot wounds during a seven-year period.

Pte Gray's family said "he loved every minute of being in the Army" and he had no history of mental health problems or reported any bullying to them.

He had been due to commence his HGV driver training at a different barracks the week after his death and had been itching to leave Deepcut, his family said.

An open verdict was recorded in the first inquest into his death in 2002, but a fresh inquest was ordered after former Attorney General Jeremy Wright said he was satisfied fresh evidence had come to light.

Concluding the new inquest in Woking, coroner Peter Rook ruled Pte Gray did take his own life.

Following a review of the ballistic evidence, including fresh analysis, Mr Rook concluded Pte Gray was shot at very close range by the SA80 rifle found next to his body.

He found that if on automatic mode, the weapon could fire 11 rounds a second and that it was possible for a single burst of five shots to have been fired - with two hitting Pte Gray and three missing him.

"The ultimate position is that the forensic evidence is consistent with self-infliction but does not rule out infliction by another," Mr Rook said.

Mr Rook added that there is "no evidence" that Pte Gray was bullied, and none to suggest "unobserved welfare problems".

Watch: Pte Gray's parents give their reactions to the result outside court.

The inquest also heard the Army had failed to learn lessons from previous deaths at the time Pte Gray died.

However, the coroner said changes the service had already made meant he would not be making any new recommendations.

Speaking outside court, Pte Gray's mother Diane Gray said: "It still doesn't make any sense.

"This is just one man's decision."

Geoff Gray, Pte Gray's father said: "I'm absolutely shattered with this conclusion.

"The coroner said we shouldn't make assumptions - but then he's just gone and assumed that Geoff committed suicide.

"There's no forensic evidence to say who shot Geoff."

Watch: Army has 'accepted there were shortcomings at Deepcut'.

The Army's spokesman, Brigadier Christopher Coles, said: "Over the years there has been much rumour and speculation about some third party involvement in Geoff's death.

"The coroner has made clear today that such spec is baseless.

"That said, we acknowledge that the original invests were clearly lacking."

Brig Coles continued: "The Army has long since accepted that there were shortcomings at Deepcut at the time of Geoff's death."