Cheryl witness 'gave untrue story', inquest told
A former military police officer has been accused of trying to "make himself look more efficient" in his account of the death of Private Cheryl James at Deepcut Barracks.
Neil Vousden, a member of the regimental police at the camp, was questioned about whether there were inconsistencies between his account and other evidence. He was accused of being inaccurate about whether he drove Pte James to her post, if reports that the gate was unmanned were ignored, and how long it took to find her body.
Pte James, 18, from Llangollen, was found with a fatal bullet wound on November 27, 1995 – one of four young soldiers to die at the training camp in Surrey over a seven-year period.
Mr Vousden told the inquest at Surrey Coroners Court in Woking yesterday that he and another colleague Tyron Bancroft were the first to find Pte James's body.
He said he had selected Pte James to man the gate that morning because she was "a very responsible young lady" and that she had not volunteered for the role.
Mr Vousden said he drove Pte James to the gate, performed a radio check, left her at about 6.55am and returned to the guardroom. He said he returned at about 8.20am a "couple of minutes" after it was reported the gate was unattended.
But Alison Foster QC, representing the James family, accused him of giving an untrue account to make himself "look more efficient". She said other witnesses reported Pte James had walked to her post, rather than being driven by Mr Vousden.
The inquest continues.
