British Army ‘Beasting’ Trial
According to the Ministry of Defence, the British Army does “not allow or condone” the practice of ‘beasting’ - an informal form of punishment.
The statement followed the acquittal of a trio of soldiers – Sergeant Russell Price, Corporal John Edwards and Sergeant Paul Blake - of manslaughter in connection with the death of Private Gavin Williams.
Those present at Wincester Crown Court, Wincester, UK, were told how, two years ago, a heavy regime of physical exercise preceded Private Williams’s death.
Bullying in British Army
Once the ‘not guilty’ verdict had been read out, the ministry highlighted how high-ranking officers intervened in instances of bullying.
"The Army does not allow or condone any form of physical activity to be used for disciplinary purposes”, a spokesman for the MoD said.
"Commanding officers are made fully aware of their responsibility to protect their soldiers from all forms of physical and mental harassment or intimidation, and any suspicion of bullying is dealt with immediately.
"These principles are reinforced throughout all military training", he concluded.
The judge at the trial, Mr Justice Royce, stated: "This sort of activity should not be condoned and mustn't be allowed to happen again."
Earlier, he had requested that the jury deliberate over whether the three soldiers had been “hung out to dry” while Captain Mark Davis, who commanded them, escaped prosecution.
The MoD stated that the Crown Prosecution Service, rather than the Army, should be responsible for selecting the individuals that should go on trial.
Royal Military Police
Following the court case, the Royal Military Police are now set to intervene – assessing whether military legislation was breached in connection with Private Williams’ death.
Source – Armed Forces International’s Political Correspondent
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