Army procedures changed – but appeal against conviction falters

Head of Military Law at Tuckers, Kelly Thomas, acted for Staff Sgt Patrick Price throughout the defence at trial and appeal in a tragic case in which a young fusilier died during a live firing exercise in Kenya.

After trial, Staff Sgt Price was convicted of the reduced charge of negligence.  His sentence included 21 months detention and dismissal from the army.

Although Kelly and barrister Benjamin Squirrell failed to get the guilty verdict overturned on appeal – they succeeded in having key elements of the sentence reduced.  With his detention reduced to 15 months, Staff Sgt Price is due for imminent release and having been restored to the army, he and his family can now remain in their army accommodation and his 20 year service pension is secured.

Kelly said “this was a tragic case where my client was put in an invidious position, overseeing a live fire training exercise for which he had not been properly trained.  We are unhappy that we have not been able to overturn the conviction in this case. The army has clearly acknowledged the mistakes it made – having now amended its procedures as a direct result of this case.”