NCOs charged over 'beasting' death of soldier

Gavin Williams collapsed as he carried out a series of gruelling physical exercises as a punishment at his barracks on Salisbury Plain.

The 22-year-old soldier - who had been in the Army for just a year - died on a day that temperatures at the base reached 90f (32c).

Crown Prosecution Service lawyers yesterday advised Wiltshire police to charge two sergeants and a corporal over the tragedy last July.

Stephen O'Doherty, the CPS lawyer reviewing the case, said Private Williams had been subjected to "an intense period of physical activity amounting to unlawful punishment, on an extremely hot day".

Sergeants Russell Price and Paul Blake and Corporal John Edwards were charged and released on bail to appear at Salisbury Magistrates Court on August 1.

Two days before he died, Private Williams, of Hengoed, Mid-Glamorgan, had been out drinking with friends in Salisbury after England's World Cup defeat to Portugal.

He reportedly ran into trouble with his superiors after a fire extinguisher was let off and sprayed at the officers' mess at Lucknow Barracks, Tidworth.

After his death, friends said the prank resulted in a punishment parade where, despite 'begging for mercy' he was told to continue with the physical exercises in full uniform, carrying heavy kit.

Mr O'Doherty said Private Williams "was to be charged and would have faced sanctions and an inquiry into a series of alleged disciplinary-breaches he had committed".

The young soldier's death brought fresh embarassment for the Army, struggling to rebuild its reputation after the deaths of four recruits at Deepcut training camp in Surrey between 1995 and 2002.

Although no evidence was found to support relatives' claims that some were murdered, official reports exposed a shocking culture of physical bullying and psychological abuse.

After the death of Private Williams, his grandfather Ralph Williams, 67, spoke of the family's 'devastation and disbelief' and said they would place their faith in a police investigation.

"I am glad the police are looking into it because I have no faith in the military," he added.

"The police will get to the bottom of what happened and it will all come out in public."

The dead soldier, from the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Welsh Regiment, lived with his mother Deborah and teenage sister Zeta and had worked as a labourer before joining the Army.