Geoff Gray Inquest: Prevention of Future Deaths Report

The Chief Coroner and the Royal College of Pathologists have each issued their response to the ‘Regulation 28’ report for the prevention of future deaths issued by His Honour Peter Rook QC, Assistant Coroner for Surrey, at the conclusion of the Inquest into the death of Geoff Gray.

Pte Gray was found dead at Princess Royal Barracks, Deepcut, Surrey on 17 September 2001. The High Court ruled in November 2017 that the inquest into his death, held in March 2002, should be quashed and a new inquest convened. In June 2019, the fresh inquest returned a conclusion of suicide. The Coroner considered that he was under a statutory duty to make a report to prevent other deaths, and wrote to the Chief Coroner and the Royal College of Pathologists regarding the type of post-mortem examinations carried out in cases of death by gunshot wounds. The responses by the Chief Coroner and the Royal College can be found below.

Response from HHJ Mark Lucraft QC – Chief Coroner

Response from Professor Jo Martin – President of the Royal College of Pathologists