Walla Brook in more benign conditions

Walla Brook in more benign conditions

A coroner has adjourned an inquest into the death of a 14-year-old girl who died during a Ten Tors training expedition.

Dr Elizabeth Earland, Exeter and Greater Devon coroner, halted the inquest at Exeter County Hall after deciding the evidence appeared to show a criminal offence might have been committed.  Charlotte Shaw died after falling into Walla Brook during the practice for the endurance walk, which is organised by the Army.

At the time of the incident, Detective Chief Inspector Steve Carey of Devon and Cornwall Police said: “There is absolutely no suggestion at all of wrongdoing.”

However, the case will now be considered by the Crown Prosecution Service after Dr Earland spent nearly two weeks listening to evidence. She will also ask the Independent Police Complaints Commission to investigate the police’s conduct during the investigation into Charlotte’s death.

It is normal for any criminal proceedings to be completed before a full inquest is held.

Charlotte, from Frithelstock in Devon, was with nine others from Edgehill College, Bideford, when she fell into the brook. Conditions on Dartmoor at the time were described as atrocious and led to the airlifting of 26 people from the moor on the weekend of the training exercise in March 2007.

The Ten Tors is a challenge involving up to 400 teams of six teenagers covering between 35 and 55 miles over two days.

Edgehill College, a private school, has since been renamed Kingsley School.