Cheryl James inquest: Deepcut verdict postponed until June

Coroner Brian Barker QC was expected to give his conclusions tomorrow, but has now said he will re-convene the inquest on June 3.

Private James, 18, whose parents, Des and Doreen live in Llanymynech, near Oswestry, was found dead with a bullet wound to the head at the Deepcut army barracks in Surrey in 1995.

The initial inquest into her death, held within week, recorded an open verdict.

Her parents campaigned tirelessly for a new inquest, which began in February.

A second inquest in Woking was ordered after High Court judges quashed the original findings, the end of a legal battle by the family.

The hearing sat for 30 days over three months and heard from 109 witnesses including nine expert witnesses.

Closing submissions were presented to the court in April.

Mr James said he and his wife had been disappointed about the hold-up.

"We can only trust that the judge is ensuring that he can give sufficient and serious consideration to the submissions that have been made," he said.

The couple say that they have been overwhelmed by the message of support that they have had during the inquest.

"Every one of those kind messages have helped during this difficult time," Mr James said.