A special forces soldier has been handed down a suspended prison sentence after a training exercise fell into disaster as he mistakenly fired live rounds instead of hitting, a colleague hit seven times, leaving him with life-changing injuries.
The shocking incident that took place during a hostage in January 2019 was detailed at Bulford Military Court in Wiltshire, where the shooter, known only as soldier B for security reasons, received a six-month suspended prison sentence and was ordered to pay £ 5,000 compensation.
Soldier A, the victim, was hit in the chest and arms and has since been medically discharged from the military with both serious physical injuries and post -traumatic stress. When he read his sacrificial declaration in court, Colonel Emma Whiting was moved to tears as she forwarded his words.
“There is no doubt if I had not carried my body armor, I would have been shot dead,” said Soldier A. He explained that body armor had not been mandatory for drilling, but he had chosen to wear it because it helped him carry other equipment.
The court heard that Soldier B, an experienced service man, but new on the elite unit, had mistakenly loaded his rifle with live ammunition while reluring at speed in a poorly lit area. When he believed he had separated the live and blank magazines, he went the wrong one.
Prosecutor LT Col Whiting told the court: “He failed to check the magazine’s case correctly before he inserted it.”
Judge Attorney Jane England said several military failures had reduced Soldier B’s fault. A scheduled security briefing was canceled, while the magazines containing topics were almost identical to those with live rounds.
During the exercise, Soldier A had played an enemy role and guarded a conference room where hostages were held. Soldier B opened fire as he passed him, with colleagues who initially assumed the blood and screams were part of the role -playing scenario. Only when soldier an identified himself as a “no-bluff casualty” did medicines realize that the injuries were real.
He was hit by 23 live rounds, the last seven caused the worst injury. His left arm demanded extensive reconstruction after he lost 90 percent of a key nerv, and his breast also needed surgery.
“My injuries have changed my life and will continue to have influence,” said Soldier A.
Soldier B visited him later in the hospital to apologize.