Soldier’s trial visits army barracks

The jury in the trial of a soldier accused of murdering his comrade has visited the barracks where the killing is alleged to have taken place.

Corporal Geoffrey McNeill was found dead in his room in March. (© West Mercia Police)

Jurors at Birmingham Crown Court have been hearing the Crown's evidence against Lance Corporal Richard Farrell.

On Wednesday they travelled to Clive Barracks at Tern Hill in Shropshire, where it is alleged he murdered Corporal Geoffrey McNeill earlier this year.

Farrell denies murdering Cpl McNeill.

Corporal McNeill was from Ballymoney, Co Antrim.

Both men served with The Royal Irish Regiment, but in different companies.

Prosecutors allege 23-year-old Farrell "violently and brutally attacked" his 32-year-old victim in his room at the barracks sometime between 4am and 6am on 8 March, after both men had been out drinking.

In CCTV shown to the court on Tuesday during Christopher Hotten QC's opening of the Crown's case, Farrell was shown being floored by a single punch delivered by Cpl McNeill in a pub in the nearby town of Market Drayton.

Later, after both men made their own way back to base, the prosecution claim Farrell sought out the corporal in his room, assaulting him and breaking his neck in a possible revenge attack for the earlier incident.

Jurors heard that Farrell told police he was drunk and remembered nothing of that night, after being punched in the pub.

Following the visit, the jury was released for the day and the trial will continue on Thursday

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