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Army officers ‘let down’ soldier over sexual assault claim before she killed herself, court martial told
Prosecutors say the officers downplayed Jaysley Beck’s report of sexual assault, and the Army later apologized after an inquest found the handling contributed to her death.
- On Tuesday, Colonel Samantha Shepherd and Major James Hook went on trial at the Military Court Centre in Catterick, accused of 'conduct prejudicial to good order and service discipline' over their handling of a complaint by Gunner Jaysley Beck.
- The prosecution alleges the officers 'let down' Beck, who reported being sexually assaulted by Warrant Officer Michael Webber during a July 2021 training exercise at Thorney Island in Hampshire.
- Commander Paul Patterson, prosecuting, claimed Hook failed to treat the report 'in a manner consistent with its seriousness,' while Shepherd 'deliberately misreported what she had been told' to Captain Mae King.
- Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges; Webber was jailed for six months last year after admitting the offence against Beck, who died in December 2021.
- An inquest into Beck's death found the mishandling of her complaint played 'more than a minimal contributory part into her death,' prompting an apology from the Army.
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Jaysley Beck: Colonel found not guilty of mishandling allegations made by female soldier who killed herself
Two serving Army officers have been found not guilty of mishandling sexual abuse allegations made by a teenage solider who went on to take her own life. Major James Hook and Colonel Samantha Shepherd were cleared of wrongdoing at the Military Court Centre at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire today.They were accused of not properly handling the case of Gunner Jaysley Beck, from Cumbria, after she was sexually assaulted by former Battery Serge…
·London, United Kingdom
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Swindon Advertiser+2 Reposted by 2 other sources
Teenage soldier 'let down' by senior officers in Wiltshire
Teenage soldier was 'let down' by senior officers in Wiltshire, a court heard.
·Swindon, United Kingdom
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The IndependentReposted by 
The Independent (US)
The Independent (US)Army officer found not guilty over handling of Jaysley Beck assault
Crown concludes there is ‘insufficient evidence’ to convict Colonel Samantha Shepherd
·London, United Kingdom
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Total News Sources26
Leaning Left3Leaning Right3Center16Last UpdatedBias Distribution73% Center
Bias Distribution
- 73% of the sources are Center
73% Center
14%
C 73%
13%
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