Three soldiers have been bailed by a court

[Barry69]

Scouse it may be just me but the subject is news and people will have opinions, and the forum is the place members tend to air them, I am sure no harm is meant, but I do feel that we all should be able to comment on all permitted listings on the forum but also at all times remain sensitive to all parties concerned, (Points 1 & 2 included).

It would be quite difficult to mark items as taboo and anything really insensitive would be identified and amended by admin? Would it not.



Regards

Barry

[Bob Bacon]

SALISBURY Three soldiers have been bailed by a court, charged with the manslaughter of a junior colleague.

Making their first appearance at Salisbury Magistrates’ Court were Sergeant Russell Price, 45, Sergeant Paul Blake, 37, and Corporal John Edwards, 45. Following the short hearing the men were bailed to appear at Winchester Crown Court on August 6.

Sergeant Blake and Corporal Edwards are from the 2nd Battalion the Royal Welsh Regiment at Lucknow Barracks in Tidworth while Sergeant Price is with 2 Rifles based at Weeton Barracks in Blackpool.

[Bob Bacon]

Jurors have been selected to try three soldiers accused of killing a junior colleague.

Sergeant Russell Price, Sergeant Paul Blake and Corporal John Edwards all deny the manslaughter of Private Gavin Williams at Lucknow Barracks in Tidworth, on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire.

Twelve potential jury members and six reserves were selected and then sent home. The case was adjourned until Thursday, when the prosecution is expected to open its case.

Pte Williams, 22, from Hengoed in South Wales, who was part of the Second Battalion the Royal Welsh Regiment, collapsed on July 3 2006 and died later that day.

Sgt Blake, 37, and Cpl Edwards, 45, both from the 2nd Battalion Royal Welsh Regiment, and Sgt Price, 45, of 2 Rifles, are standing trial at Winchester Crown Court.

[rikoshea]

I agree with Led, I did a stint on the white helmets display team in Warminster which lasted a good 2 hours long and I remember it was a really hot day also.

We started doubling the the camp dressed in the helmets and webbing, then with that and the shell each and then carrying the log, Well me and Sid Price carried the log, Fred Green made out he was doing it. The number 23 gave me nightmares for months.

And all this for being 5 minutes late for parade, (Spud Murphy & Scottie Blair made out we were late, however we were always 5 minutes early because this was instilled in us. We found out a few years later that we were jailed because Murphy had a disagreement with band master over rehearsal timings he did not want to do, so the only way he could get out of it was jailing the front rank.

Which in those days you could and did not have to be charged and put on OC orders.

Led only once i did the white helmets display team that was enough for me mate, on the other hand you had your own helmet and webbing marked up with your name on. And was always guarenteed to wear it on every posting, even on exercise trumpet dance in America you wore it.

However this does not take away the fact that a young man did die, whether the beasting did this or that he had a medical condition which was not known to the Army. And my condolences go out to his family at this very sad time.

lets not jump to any conclusions until the trial starts and hopefully the justice system makes the right judgement.

However lets hope that some ex Squaddies are on this 12 person jury.

Many sports people have died doing very tough training over the years, have their trainers gone to jail (No) is the answer. And many service people are being killed out in Iraq and Afganistan without having the correct clothing or equipment still. But is the defence secretary or the Prime Minister in the dock for this.

The defence Secretary is sending these men and women out to do a job without the protection or equipment, so if any service people die doing their job, then why is the defence secretary brought to justice. And not for manslaughter because they know what they are doing.

lets hope that sence prevails on this one.

[sean a coy]

I don't really know the full story in this case but I've read abit about it in the local rag...

OK, let's put things into context... A young lad, who's decided to make his family and himself proud and make the huge move in joining the army...not the jihad movement and become the enemy within(which is probably better money)..the british army, as we all did.

I've read, right or wrong that the lad in question made his way back to the barracks steaming drunk and squirted a guest of the officers mess with a fire extinguisher....not the end of the world I hope we all agree? Then he was tracked down by the RP staff and the Instruction was given that he turn up the following morning ''panting like a dog''. (according to the south wales argus).

Ok, lets go a full 360 degrees. Young lad walking back to the block after a few beers down the naffi...guests' of the Officers mess decide he's fair game and let rip with a fire extinguisher.....Think about it.

What punishment would the officer get...I know...None.
The uk, as we all know as got a massive two tier system. Long since gone in the rest of the civilised world.

If going to sandhurst gives you the god given right to dish down such punishment, why did we all go and get rid of Saddam Hussain, because I thought that's what he did to his own people?
The days of being able to be the judge and jury are gone...It's 2008. Not 1914. the average Fuslilier/private is able to read and write now.

(All views appreciated)

Sean O'connor ''oc''

[Bob Bacon]

Jul 29 2008 Media Wales

THE jury in the trial of three non-commissioned officers accused of “beasting” a soldier to death retired today to consider its verdicts.

The trial at Winchester Crown Court has heard that Private Gavin Williams, 22, was allegedly put through an intense session of physical exercise at Lucknow Barracks in Tidworth, Wiltshire, on July 3, 2006 to punish him for his drunken behaviour.

Pte Williams, from Hengoed in South Wales, of the Second Battalion the Royal Welsh Regiment, collapsed and died of heatstroke on one of the hottest days of the year.

The prosecution allege that Provost Sergeant Russell Price, 46, of 2 Rifles, led the beasting, “willingly” assisted by physical training instructor Sergeant Paul Blake, 37, and Corporal John Edwards, 33, both from the 2nd Battalion Royal Welsh Regiment. The trio deny the manslaughter of Pte Williams.

Mark Dennis QC, prosecuting, said the three defendants unlawfully killed Pte Williams by subjecting him to ill-treatment and physical abuse before he collapsed.

[rikoshea]

oh well lads see you in a few years after that summing up.....can we safely say that the families of friendly fire can now take on the pilots from america who killed their sons or daughters in this boll-cks they call friendly fire.

[Braz]

'Beasting' death soldiers cleared.

Three Soldiers have been cleared of manslaughter of a junior colleague at a barracks in Wiltshire. Sgt Russell Price, Sgt Paul Blake and Cpl John Edwards were all found Not Guilty by a Jury at Winchester Crown Court.

Glad to see common sense prevail.

[davecrim]

'Beasting' death soldiers cleared

Pte Williams died after being punished for a misdemeanour
Three soldiers have been cleared of the manslaughter of a junior colleague at a barracks in Wiltshire.

Pte Gavin Williams, 22, of Hengoed, Caerphilly, collapsed and died at Lucknow Barracks in Tidworth in 2006.

Sgt Russell Price, 45, Sgt Paul Blake, 37, and Cpl John Edwards, 42, were found not guilty by a jury at Winchester Crown Court.

The court had heard that Pte Williams died after being made to do an informal punishment known as beasting.

During the trial the prosecution alleged Pte Williams was put through an intense session of physical exercise, or beasting, to punish him for his drunken high jinks.

The soldier, of the Second Battalion the Royal Welsh Regiment, collapsed and died on one of the hottest days in 2006.

He was admitted to hospital where tests showed his body temperature was 41.7C, higher than the norm of 37C.

Tests subsequently showed he had ecstasy in his body when he died.

Following the acquittal, trial judge Mr Justice Royce attacked the Army for allowing beasting to take place.

He also criticised the fact that the three non-commissioned officers were placed in the dock while their commander, the adjutant Captain Mark Davis, who ordered that Pte Williams be brought to him "hot and sweaty", was in the process of being promoted.

In his summing up, the judge had asked the jury to consider whether the defendants had been "hung out to dry" while Capt Mark Davis was not prosecuted.

Mr Justice Royce said: "The evidence has demonstrated that the practice of beasting - which clearly falls outside appropriate military discipline - was going on in these barracks openly and must have been known to senior officers."

The conclusion of the trial allows the Royal Military Police now to conduct a full investigation into his death... this will examine whether there were any breaches of military law said Major General Andrew Gregory

He went on: "Many will have found it unpalatable that the order from Captain Davis to bring this man to them 'hot and sweaty' was an order that the defendants found themselves having to comply with.

"Many would have found it unpalatable that three NCOs were in the dock facing these charges and to hear he is about to be promoted.

"Lessons have to be learnt from this case by the regiment and the Army.

"This sort of activity should not be condoned and mustn't be allowed to happen again and this lesson must be clearly relayed to those in charge."

The court also heard there was likely to be a board of inquiry into the practice of beasting.

'Campaign for justice'

After the verdict the director general personnel of the British Army, Major General Andrew Gregory, said: "The Army deeply regrets the death of Private Williams and my thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.

"The conclusion of the trial allows the Royal Military Police now to conduct a full investigation into his death.

"This will examine whether there were any breaches of military law. A decision can then be made on further action. I am unable to comment further until this investigation concludes."

A statement was read outside court from Pte Williams's mother Debra expressing her anger at the treatment of her son.

She said the family's "campaign for justice" would continue

[Bob Bacon]

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