Appeal over Cheryl's death
The parents of a young soldier who died at the controversial Deepcut Army barracks say people from across the world have come forward to help their plight.
Cheryl James died from a bullet wound to the head while doing her basic training at the Surrey army camp 20 years ago. She was just 18.Just three weeks after her death an inquest recorded an open verdict.
But parents Des and Doreen James, from Llanymynech have constantly campaigned for a fuller investigation into the teenager’s death.
Now Mr James has said an appeal for witnesses for their daughter’s new inquest has already seen people come forward from across the world.
They say the inquest, which opens in Woking in February, is possibly their last chance to discover what happened.
Now the family and their lawyer from the organisation Liberty want new witnesses to come forward.“If you have any information whatsoever, about Cheryl’s death, this may well be your last opportunity to make it known,” Mr James said.
“If you know anything, however insignificant you think it is, please allow the court to decide.”
A social media campaign has been launched through Twitter and Facebook to spread the news about the new inquest .
“It has been 20 years and people who were at the camp have dispersed across not only Britain but the world,” Mr James said.
“We want to hear from people who were at Deepcut in 1995, who know anything about Cheryl’s death or have been told anything about Cheryl’s death.
“There may be people living in fear of speaking out,” he said. “Remember, some of these kids have been told they cannot speak because of the Official Secrets Act.
“But the judge has stated he can see no reason why evidence given to the inquest could, in any way, breach the Official Secrets Act and I have to trust him.
“We have 3,500 followers on Deepcut – The Truth, our Facebook page but we need so many more.
“In the first 24 hours of our appeal we had people coming forward with new evidence, some who allege they have never been interviewed before.”
He added: “We have had people already contact us from as far away as South Africa and USA. The response has been incredible but that just makes us feel there might be more out there. This is our last chance to achieve justice for Cheryl.”
Anybody with information should e-mail: CJInquestteam@sergeantsinn.com or militaryjustice@liberty-human-rights.org.uk
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