Cheryl James' family dismayed over new delay to inquest

Des and Doreen James, from Llanymynech, near Oswestry, have fought for almost 20 years for their daughter's death to be fully investigated.

Now, so close to the opening of a new inquest, they have been left reeling after a pre-inquest hearing was left in limbo last week.

Private Cheryl James was just 18 when she died from a gunshot wound to the head in November 1995. An inquest at the time recorded an open verdict. She was one of four soldiers who died at the Deepcut barracks in Surrey between 1995 and 2002.

Mr and Mrs James were delighted when their campaign for justice led to a ruling that a new inquest should be held, saying they could see a light at the end of the tunnel.

However, at a hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice on Friday, Surrey Police said that Judge Brian Barker QC "might like to consider" adjourning so that inquests into all four soldiers could be held at the same time.

Mr James, who was in London for the hearing, said the suggestion had come out of the blue. He said: "In reality that could hold up the inquest into Cheryl's death for years, it is just ridiculous. The families of the other young soldiers have only just asked for disclosure.

"It took us 10 years to get permission from the High Court for disclosure and a further three to get 75 per cent of the evidence from Surrey Police.

"We also feel the inquests should not be lumped together, that our children deserve the dignity of their deaths being individually investigated."

Judge Barker did not make a ruling on the suggestion but instead adjourned for a date to be fixed.

Surrey Police also investigated the deaths of Sean Benton, 20, Geoff Gray, 17, and James Collinson, 17.