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Verdict delivered on Land Rover deaths of four soldiers

10 March 2010

A week-long inquest into the events surrounding the death of four soldiers who were killed in a Snatch Land Rover in Afghanistan concluded today.

After an in depth investigation and hearing evidence from a number of witnesses, the coroner David Masters at Trowbridge Town Hall, found that the four soldiers were unlawfully killed.

Cpl. Sarah Louise Bryant, L/Cpl. Richard James Larkin, Cpl. Sean Robert Reeve and Pte. Paul Stout were serving with the army in Helmand Province, Afghanistan on 17th June 2008 when the Snatch Land Rover they were travelling in was struck by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), around 16 kilometres north-east of Lashkar Gah.  The four soldiers died from blast wounds and blunt injuries; one other occupant of the vehicle survived the explosion.

The inquest heard how the soldiers were an easy target for enemy forces, as they were made to travel in Snatch Land Rover vehicles which can only cross the terrain on designated tracks, a fact which the evidence showed the Taliban knew well. Other vehicles, which may have allowed them to avoid the IEDs that killed them, were not made available.

The inquest also heard that, in spite of the well known restrictions of Snatch Land Rover vehicles, members of the unit had limited training in the life-saving drills that would allow them to detect the IEDs that would inevitably be planted in their path. In particular, the evidence showed that there was an inexplicable shortage of the metal detectors that were required to detect IEDs.

Adam Wilson, a solicitor at Russell Jones & Walker, who is representing the families of two of the deceased soldiers said:

"The lack of suitable vehicles, the limited training in the use of metal detectors and the unforgiveable fact that too few metal detectors were available on the day, considerably increased the risks for these soldiers and allowed the Taliban to target our forces with tragic, yet potentially preventable, consequences. It is imperative that the MoD heed the recommendations of the coroner so that a lack of equipment does not put British forces in Afghanistan at unnecessary risk."

Statement from the family:

We, the families of Richard Larkin and Sean Reeve would like to thank the Coroner David Masters for his very thorough and rigorous investigation of the deaths of Richard and Sean, as well those of Paul and Sarah, which he has conducted over the last six days.

Although nothing can bring back a husband to his wife, a father to his children and a son to his parents and family, we are at least comforted by the fact that there has been careful and open consideration of the circumstances in which they died, so that lessons may be learned for the future.

We have heard over the course of the inquest how a lack of metal detectors and inappropriate vehicles contributed to their deaths.

We hope that the lack of resources, and shortcomings in training and planning which have been exposed in the evidence that we have heard will not be repeated. We hope that the MoD will heed the recommendations of the Coroner and that, by reason of the changes they make; no other families will have to stand in the position in which we stand today.

Adam Wilson, Russell Jones & Walker: “Sean’s parents have asked me to say that Sean was a courageous, selfless and loving son who performed to the highest standards in all he did in his life. His loss has been devastating to the family and has left a void that can never be filled. His only fear in being deployed to Afghanistan was the pain and suffering it would cause his family in the event of his death. “Those who live on in the hearts of others will never die. Sean, you will never die.”

Adam Wilson, Russell Jones & Walker: "Richard’s family have asked me to say the following; Richards memory will be carried forever in the hearts of those who loved him, sadly his role as a devoted father will now be denied to his three young children as they face the future without him as a powerful role model and loving father."

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