A SPECIAL forces soldier shot a comrade seven times by accident after using live ammo instead of blanks during a training exercise.
Shocking details emerged as the elite serviceman got a suspended jail term at a military court in Wiltshire — which said there were multiple safety failures.
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He was hit in the chest and arms after the mix-up between live and blank rounds during an exercise.
The victim, named as Soldier A, suffered life-changing injuries and post-traumatic stress and was medically discharged.
Lieutenant Colonel Emma Whiting was moved to tears as she read out his victim statement.
In it, Soldier A said: “There is no doubt, if I hadn’t been wearing my body armour, I would have been shot dead.”
It had not been compulsory for the drill. But the soldier said he wore it that night because it made the other equipment he had to carry fit better.
Bulford Military Court, Wilts, heard that the shooter, named as Soldier B, had put the wrong ammunition magazine in his assault rifle when he reloaded the gun at speed in the dark.
He admitted performing a duty negligently and got a six-month suspended prison sentence.
He was also ordered to pay £5,000 compensation to Soldier A.
Assistant Judge Advocate General Jane England said there were multiple safety failures by the military which had reduced Soldier B’s culpability.
He failed to properly check the magazine matter before inserting it
Prosecutor Lt Col Whiting
A planned safety briefing was cancelled, the court heard.
And the magazines containing blanks looked almost identical to those with live rounds.
The names of the soldiers, their unit and the location of the hostage drill have all been kept secret for national security.
The court heard Soldier B was an experienced squaddie but it was his first time training with the top-secret unit.
He told the court martial he loaded his weapon fast as “speed was of the essence” and “he didn’t want to be the last person ready”.
The area where he loaded the gun was lit by street lights.
And he mistakenly thought he had packed magazines with live ammo in a separate compartment to those with blanks.
Prosecutor Lt Col Whiting told the court: “He failed to properly check the magazine matter before inserting it.”
Soldier B had not expected to play a “shooting role” but he had stepped up as comrades were notionally “killed” during the January 2019 hostage drill.
As Soldier B went past Soldier A, he saw blood burst from his forearm.
Lt Col Whiting
Soldier A was playing an enemy role, the court heard.
He was guarding the door to a conference room where a number of “civilians” were held hostage when Soldier B opened fire.
Lt Col Whiting told the court martial: “As Soldier B went past Soldier A, he saw blood burst from his forearm.”
At first others thought Soldier A’s screams and injuries were part of the role-play scenario.
It was only when he indicated he was a “no-bluff casualty” that colleagues provided first aid.
My injuries have changed my life and will continue to have an impact
Soldier A
Soldier A suffered serious injuries to his left forearm, abdomen, chest and right arm.
The court heard he has undergone multiple surgeries as his left arm required extensive reconstruction and he lost 90 per cent of a median nerve, which helps to move the forearm, wrist, hand and fingers.
The right side of his chest also required reconstruction and there was permanent scarring.
He added: “My injuries have changed my life and will continue to have an impact.”
Soldier B apologised to the victim when visiting in hospital.
Judge England found he had fired 23 live rounds in the course of the exercise but it was the “last seven rounds that caused the life-changing injuries”.
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