FAMILIES of soldiers who died at Deepcut Barracks renewed their calls for a public inquiry last night, after a report claimed their loved ones were victims of murder or manslaughter.

An independent investigation into the deaths, including that of Private Geoff Gray, 17, from Seaham, County Durham, is expected to show none of them were suicide.

Forensic expert Frank Swann is yet to publish his findings into the four soldiers' deaths at the Surrey Army base, but a national newspaper claimed the families would be told they were all unlawful killings.

Pte Gray's father, also called Geoff, told The Northern Echo the conclusion would confirm what he and wife Diane "have always known in our hearts".

"We haven't got the report as yet but if this is to be the outcome we welcome it," he said. "We say take it to the coroner and give us a new inquest with a verdict of unlawful killing."

Pte Gray was found dead at the barracks with two gunshot wounds to the head in September 2001. His parents were told by the Army that he had committed suicide but an inquest into his death resulted in an open verdict.

Mr Swann is expected to conclude that Pte Gray, and three other soldiers, Sean Benton, 20, Cheryl James, 18, and James Collinson, 17, could not have shot themselves with their own rifles.

The report is likely to criticise the military for destroying evidence and failing to follow procedures. Surrey Police are conducting their own investigation into the deaths.

"We need to move on, have another inquest and then after that we need a full inquiry into the way non-combat deaths in the Army are dealt with," said Mr Gray, who now lives in London.

"The problem is that deaths aren't being investigated. The Army turned up to my door eight hours after Geoff died and told me he killed himself. The whole system is wrong."

An Early Day Motion backing calls for a nationwide examination of the way all peacetime deaths in service are investigated has been signed by 174 MPs.