Soldier’s mother has hopes of fresh inquiry

The mother of a Perth soldier who died at Deepcut army barracks is edging closer to getting a fresh inquiry into his death.

Yvonne Heath, formerly Collinson, is hopeful a bid to try to find out how her son died could take place early next year at the High Court.

Although authorities believe 17-year-old James Collinson shot himself at the barracks, Mrs Heath claims he was never issued with a gun due to his age.

Tomorrow will mark the 16th anniversary of the night James was found with a fatal gunshot wound at the barracks in Surrey.

He was one of four recruits who died at the Royal Logistic Corps headquarters between 1995 and 2002.

Privates Sean Benton, 20, 18-year-old Cheryl James and Geoff Gray, 17, were all found in similar circumstances.

The army had said James had taken his own life but an inquest in 2006 ended with the coroner recording an open verdict.

Mrs Heath, who lives in Chester, has always endeavoured to get to the bottom of her son’s death and said she is moving nearer to getting a fresh inquiry into the matter.

She said: “James was never issued with a weapon and it was another soldier’s gun that was found alongside his body – the weapon was never finger-printed.

“There was no gunpowder residue on James’s hands which would indicate that he didn’t pull the trigger, if we are to believe the army’s theory of suicide.

“James had said he wasn’t issued with a gun because he wasn’t yet 18.

She continued: “It will be the 16th anniversary of James’s death on Friday, but we’re hopeful there will be a High Court bid to get a fresh inquiry into his death early next year.

“We need to go through all the new information and find if we have any new evidence. If there is then we will try to have the original verdict quashed and start again.

“We now have the full disclosure of papers from Surrey Police and have far more material than we had access to in the first inquest.”

An army spokesman said: “We care deeply about our young trainees and take responsibility for their welfare very seriously.”