A FRESH inquiry into the death of a North-East Army recruit at Deepcut barracks concluded he almost certainly shot himself because of his "morbid state of mind".

The report by Nicholas Blake QC concluded on the balance of probabilities that three of the trainees - Geoff Gray, 17, from Seaham, County Durham, Sean Benton, 20, of Sussex, and Cheryl James, 18, of Wales - had taken their own lives. In the case of the fourth - James Collinson, 17, from Scotland - Mr Blake did not express a view on the cause of death because an inquest was taking place.

The report found a "disturbing catalogue of allegations of misconduct", but refused to back calls for a full public inquiry.

But while Mr Blake rejected suggestions that the recruits had been bullied to death, he criticised "institutional failures" within the Army for not identifying the risks to vulnerable, young soldiers.

Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram said he would consider the recommendations in the report in order to address the weaknesses identified as quickly as possible.

The verdict is a bitter blow to Geoff's parents, Geoff and Diane Gray, who have fought a long campaign to prove he was murdered on September 17, 2001.

Last night, Mr Gray said: "I still have not found out why my son died. He did not commit suicide, he was shot once above each eyebrow from above. Nobody has convinced me that my son was not murdered."

Mr Blake said a public inquiry was unnecessary and insisted there was no suggestion of collusion or a cover-up.

One of the strongest recommendations to come out of the report was a call for the establishment of an independent Armed Forces ombudsman who could deal with complaints from soldiers.

North Durham MP Kevan Jones withdrew his own amendment for an independent commissioner amid optimism the Ministry of Defence will change its mind on breaking the "chain of command".