A CORONER has asked for permission to reopen the inquest of a North-East serviceman who died in secret military experiments, 47 years ago.
The move comes after Wiltshire police prepared a file into the death of County Durham Airman Ronald Maddison, who died, aged 20, after he was given a fatal dose of a nerve agent.
An inquest was held when Mr Maddison, from Consett, died in 1953 but was kept secret for national security. Misadventure was recorded, but Wiltshire coroner David Masters wants the inquest reopened.
He said; "I have written to the Attorney General for his permission to apply to the High Court to quash the original inquest and hold a fresh inquest into the death."
Documents from Porton Down allegedly show that Mr Maddison died because scientists wanted to find out how much nerve agent it took to penetrate a military uniform before it could kill.
It is claimed that 200mg of Sarin was dripped onto a patch of uniform taped to his arm
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