Curiouser and coriouser
According to this report Pte Kovco dreamt of death by his own hand just one month before he died from a single gun shot wound to the head.
I find it alarming that he not only had such a dream but he then recorded it in his private diary the next morning. Physciatrists would have a field day in a court case if armed with such startling information.
I am further alarmed by the statements of the two soldiers with him at the time who are reported as saying;
The three men had been singing along to pop music, reminiscing and using laptop computers when Pte Kovco’s gun suddenly discharged just 5cm away from his head around 4pm. Pte Kovco’s pistol was in a holster slung on the bed post of his bunkbed, while he stood on the ground typing an email to his wife using a laptop perched on the top mattress.I have been an Investigating Officer in the Army and know more than most punters about weapon handling, mishandling and the associated stories rationalizing same. I’m not saying it can’t happen, I’m just saying I have never heard of anything like it happening and therefore think a strong case exists to doubt the veracity of the evidence given too date…or, put more simply, someone is telling lies. If the pistol hadn’t had the trigger guard removed it would be virtually impossible for it to discharge whilst still in the holster. The trigger guards very reason for existance is to stop accidental discharges and for that reason is seldom removed.The SASR have been known to do so for improved reaction time but I have never heard of infantry troops doing it. I could be wrong but even if I am, we still have to move the muzzle of the weapon from the bedpost to 5 centimetres away from Pte Kovco’s head. I placed my laptop on my bed just now and adopted a typing position; this put my head more than 30 centimetres away from any bedpost. It’s too early to draw any conclussions other than, up to this point, the testimony given has some serious holes in it. If reported accurately the Investigating Officer must be doing some serious eye-rolling. “One of the them said `I didn’t hear the weapon cock nor did I see the weapon in his hand.” I would be beside myself in haste to ask; “then where was the pistol immediately after you heard the shot? In the holster, on the bed or on the floor? The answer to this would clear up some doubt. I presume the question was raised. The inquiry is expected to hear more evidence from Baghdad this week before adjourning until mid-July. Via Rick in comments.
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Sorry…
Whether it was a Browning or a Beretta, there is no possibility of an “accidental discharge” from a double action condition, even if there was one up the spout, this means the trigger has to be pulled through its entire travel while the weapon is in its holster. It also means no safety was applied.
If the hammer was in a cocked condition a weapon “could” discharge when “dropped” if you ignore the safety. What soldier would carry a cocked pistol in his holster with the safety off?
It had to be dropped within 5 cm of his head.
Bugger.
This guy shot himself deliberately.
What soldier would carry a cocked pistol in his holster with the safety off?
A very tired one or an unprofessional one and that hasn’t come out yet, or, the type of soldier who didn’t clear his weapon after coming back through the wire. It’s just possible he is dead through idleness…it’s happened before.
We need to see the armourers post-incident report on the pistol before we can state categorically that it did or didn’t malfunction and that hasn’t come out yet.
Having said all that it doesn’t explain how the weapon was discharged 5 cm from his head…even my vivid imagination can’t conjure up the circumstances where the pitol muzzel could arrive at the spot accidentally.
This guy shot himself deliberately. It sure as hell looks like it on the evidence too date but I’m reluctant to prejudge the matter…(although reading between the lines I have virtualy said as much myself}
Today’s testimony says weapon ended up on the floor unholstered, soldier present theorised Kovco was “skylarking” with weapon though he had no evidence of this.
For an unintentional firing, now he has to take an already cocked weapon with safety off from the holster, (assuming he would not have deliberately cocked and safety offed during a “skylark”) put his finger on the trigger, pointed it at his head and either pulled the trigger or had the incredibly bad luck of, say, a faulty sear failing resulting in an accidental firing at that very instant.
Faulty weapons have reproducible faults.
If this is suicide, the instant mood swing is a pointer as to cause, I’d be doing some MRI work looking for brain lesions with this one.
Maybe his insurance is a problem with suicide and his mates are trying to help.
Like others commenting here, I am very familiar with the issue 9mm Browning, and I have theorized possible circumstances to the Nth degree, and I cannot come up with a credible “accidental” shooting scenario given the known circumstances.
Gross carelessness, total disregard for weapon handling drills, or possible “skylarking” with the pistol are the most likely contributors, and I suspect that the witnesses are lying through their teeth.
Yes, it all looks very amaturish. I presume when soldier 17 says they practiced drawing their pistols al la cowboys they had to put down their steyr to do so.
Doesn’t loo good at all.