By Paul Donnelley A jury has criticised the Army for safety failings after a soldier on a training exercise using live ammunition was shot dead when a colleague’s jammed machine gun suddenly fired. James Wilkinson, 21, from Whitefield, Greater Manchester, a fusilier with 2nd Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, was hit in the neck in Kenya in 2011 after a senior officer failed to follow policy. Two soldiers, Fusilier Colin Bell and Pte Patrick Price, were convicted of negligence and later jailed. Both men were also dismissed from service but were allowed to remain in the forces on demoted ranks - Bell was a corporal and Price a staff sergeant - after Appeal Court judges reduced their sentences.
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James Wilkinson from Gtr Manchester killed on exercise in Kenya in 2011
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Married for just four months when he died and never saw his daughter
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Senior officer failed to follow official Army policy and two soldiers demoted
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Inquest jury delivered a narrative verdict after four days of evidence
A spokesman added: 'Our thoughts remain with Fusilier @placeholder’s friends and family following this tragic accident.