Judge criticises "BEASTING" punishments in the Army
A senior judge has criticised the Army for allowing soldiers to take part in unofficial "BEASTING" punishments after three soldiers accused of exercising a colleague to death were all acquitted of manslaughter.
Private Gavin Williams 22 died of heatstroke after being forced to march in full kit and do exercises in 30C heat on July 3rd 2006
The prosecution alleged during the trial at Winchester Crown Court Pte Williams was punished with 'gratuitous, exhausting physical activity' for going absent without leave and squirting a guest at an officers' ball with a fire extinguisher.
The 'BEASTING' was meted out after the battalion adjutant Captain Mark Davis allegedly demanded Pte Williams be brought to his office 'panting like a dog'.
Provost Sergeant Russell Price, 46, of 2 Rifles, Sgt Paul Blake, 37, and Cpl John Edwards, 33, both from the 2nd Battalion Royal Welsh Regiment, were all cleared of his manslaughter.
Pte Williams, of the Second Battalion the Royal Welsh Regiment, collapsed and died of heatstroke on one of the hottest days of 2006.
Hospital tests showed his body temperature was 41.7C, well above the norm of 37C.
Tests later showed he had low levels of ecstasy in his body when he died but pathologists all agreed that ecstacy did not cause his death as it was the physical exertion by prolonged excercise in hot conditions that caused his death
Following the acquittal, Mr Justice Royce criticised the fact three non-commissioned officers were placed in the dock while their commander, Captain Davis, was on the verge of a promotion.
Mr Justice Royce said: "There are matters which have arisen which would have caused anybody very considerable concern.
"The evidence has demonstrated that the practice of BEASTING, which clearly falls outside appropriate military discipline, was going on in these barracks openly and must have been known to senior officers.
"Many will have found it unpalatable that the order from Captain Davis to bring this man to them 'hot and sweaty' was an order that the defendants found themselves having to comply with.
"Many would have found it unpalatable that three NCOs were in the dock facing these charges and to hear he is about to be promoted.
"Lessons have to be learnt from this case by the regiment and the Army as an whole"
"This sort of activity should not be condoned and mustn't be allowed to happen again and this lesson must be clearly relayed to those in charge."
Mr Price, who has since left the Army, also spoke outside the court, and said: "We have all been hung out to dry. It's been really stressful. I feel great sympathy for Gavin Williams' family.
"BEASTING" is happening all the time, the Army should address it immediatly before anyone else gets killed
Both Sgt Blake and Cpl Edwards, who are both still serving members of the Army, declined to comment on the case.
An army source said: "Physical exercise is not to be used as a punishment"
What happened on that day within that battalion of the Royal Welsh Regiment will be at the very heart of the investigation by the Royal Military Police.
We have procedures in place to punish people....
"Physical punishment is not an accepted form of punishment"
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