SAS soldiers to go on trial for Welsh march that killed trio

Two SAS soldiers face trial by court martial over the deaths of three reservists on a 16-mile march in the Brecon Beacons.

The men, known only as 1A and 1B, both deny “negligently performing a duty” by failing to take reasonable care for the health and safety of the candidates taking part in the exercise.

Lance Corporal Craig Roberts and L/cpl Edward Maher were pronounced dead on the Welsh mountain range after suffering heatstroke in July 2013.

Corporal James Dunsby died at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital from multiple organ failure more than two weeks later.

The men facing trial, whose identities are protected by an anonymity order, appeared behind a screen at Colchester Military Court yesterday accompanied by their barrister Lewis Cherry.

One is a serving captain who was the training officer in charge of the march, while the other is a former warrant officer.

Both entered not guilty pleas.