Corporal denies boasting of 'best beasting' punishment

Cpl John Edwards, who was in the regimental police, 2 Royal Welsh, at the time gave evidence today (Monday) at Salisbury Coroner's Court as the inquest into the death of Private Gavin Williams enters its third week.

Cpl Edwards said on July 3, 2006 he had received a phone call from the Adjutant Captain Mark Davis asking for Pte Williams to be brought to his office "panting like a dog", saying he understood this to mean he should take the 22-year-old for a "quick march, to make him out of breath so he [the Adjutant] could speak to him".

He said the exercise had lasted about 20 minutes and was not as long as it usually was due to the hot weather. He said after about five minutes Pte Williams began having difficulties.

He said he was unable to remember some of the events which happened nine years ago, but that he would stick to statements he had made previously that had said Pte Williams was leaning over, retching, feeling sick and looking drained.

He said he had continued with the quick marching which involved him shouting out commands while Pte Williams marched on the spot, marched away, turned around and marched back towards Cpl Edwards.

After, he took him to see the Adjutant where the private was ordered to write letters of apology to people he had sprayed a fire extinguisher at during a regimental ball, and had his cap badge removed sending out a signal he had "disgraced his battalion".

Taking him back to the Guard Room, Cpl Edwards said he believed that would be the end of Pte William's punishment but was told by Provost Sergeant Russell Price to take him to the Physical Training Instructors (PTIs).

He told the inquest he had questioned the decision asking Sgt Price "are you sure?"

"I thought Gavin had had enough," he said, adding that he was unable to recall what Sgt Price's reaction was.

Cpl Edwards said he had not been able to take Pte Williams to the gym due to having a mess meeting to attend but that he had called the PTIs at the gym to say "a naughty boy" was coming for physical training.

The inquest heard Sgt Price took Pte Williams to the gym himself.

In evidence given previously, a soldier at the mess meeting described Cpl Edwards as saying he had just given Pte Williams the "best beasting of my life or his life". But the inquest heard Cpl Edwards has always denied saying it.

Cpl Edwards then described having received a message to say he was needed in the medical centre because Pte Williams was "kicking off". He said the private was being restrained by Staff Sergeant Blake in an attempt to stop him from hitting people or hurting himself. He was then handcuffed and placed onto a bed in the treatment room.

Shortly after he collapsed and was taken to Salisbury District Hospital where he died.

The 22-year-old, from Hengoed, south Wales, who was based at Lucknow Barracks, had a body temperature of 41.7C, above the norm of 37C. He had undergone the punishment 'beasting' on one of the hottest days of the year.

Coroner Alan Large said: "We have heard some evidence that 2 Royal Welsh, for perhaps understandable reasons bearing in mind how hard you had been worked as a battalion, did not have a particularly good rating, discipline wise. Were you aware of that?

Cpl Edwards: "Yes sir."

Mr Large said: "When Mr Davies took over as Regimental Sergeant Major, was there a change in emphasis?"

Cpl Edwards said: "When he took over, he had myself and the other two Provosts in his office - Sgt Price and Cpl Withers, and he said to us 'I don't care what you do, you can have them painting the tiles black, you can have them marking time or beasting around camp, I don't care, whatever you do, I will stand by you 110 per cent.'"

Describing 'beasting' as a normal part of army life, he said "everyone" knew about the punishment drills administered by RP staff within 2 Royal Welsh.

In July 2008, Cpl John Edwards, Sgt Paul Blake and Sgt Russell Price were found not guilty by a jury at Winchester Crown Court.

The inquest continues.