A SOLDIER who shot dead a comrade in a friendly fire tragedy in Afghanistan was dubbed one of the “safest” in the Army, a coroner heard yesterday.
L/Cpl James Brynin was gunned down by L/CoH Mark Kelly while they were fighting the Taliban in Helmand four years ago.
The inquest was dramatically halted last March while military police investigated whether he should face homicide charges.
But it resumed yesterday after it was found last November there was insufficient evidence to prosecute him over the 22-year-old intelligence expert’s death.
L/Cpl Brynin’s mum Shanon, 43, fled the hearing in tears as his commanding officer Lt Col Edward Hayward MBE said he had no fears about L/CoH Kelly.
The soldier, of Pulborough, West Sussex – who served with 14th Signal Regiment – died in Kakaran, north east of Lashkar Gah in October 2013.
The units came under heavy enemy fire, there was confusion over where the fire was coming and L/CoH Kelly accepted he was shooting in the wrong direction, the inquest was told.
But Lt Col Hayward: "There were no concerns raised about him as an officer.
"Having gone through all the mandatory training and having wholly accepted his responsibility over the death I would consider him among the safest of soldiers.
"As soldiers we learn through training but learn more through our mistakes, so this will stay with him."
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4Recalling the moment L/CoH Kelly broke down in front of him, he added: "I'll explain this in three phases. Immediately following an operation when someone gets killed everyone is in shock.
"In the second phase approaching the inquest it seemed to me he was deeply concerned and worried and perhaps putting a brave face on it and possibly in denial.
"But the best example I can give is that he came to see me and I asked 'How are you coping? and he said 'Fine'."
Fighting back tears, he continued: "I asked him to pause because I said 'Today is the first day of the rest of your life you will have to live with the knowledge you killed one of your fellow soldiers', and he broke down.
"It was understandable it took a long time for him to grasp what he has done and it has had a profound effect on him."
"This is why he carries himself the way he does now.
"The most difficult thing we have to do is take account for our actions, particularly when they have unfortunately resulted in the tragic death of our colleagues.
"Nobody plans for a blue on blue friendly fire and they are not easy to deal with.
"I'm afraid nothing said today will bring back your son or anyone else."
Coroner Penelope Schofield told the inquest in Arundel, West Sussex: "Following an investigation the decision police have taken is that there is insufficient evidence there is a homicide offence."
The inquest continues.
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