British support employee Chris Parry, who died in Ukraine, might have been killed by Wagner Group mercenaries in a potential “struggle crime”, an inquest has heard.
Mr Parry, 28, went lacking with fellow British nationwide Andrew Bagshaw close to Soledar on the bitterly contested jap frontline in January 2023.
On the time of their deaths, the UK Overseas Workplace insisted they had been killed by an artillery shell.
However Mr Parry’s inquest in Oxford at present concluded that he died of gunshot wounds to the top and torso.
The coroner didn’t go as far as to level blame particularly on the Wagner Group – the Russian mercenary firm whose fighters have engaged in heavy preventing in Ukraine.
Nonetheless, the inquest heard proof that recommended their potential involvement.
Pic: Chris Parry
Coroner Darren Salter dominated his dying as an illegal killing.
“It appears to me due to this fact to conclude given the circumstances, given the reason for dying, that he was unlawfully killed while engaged in humanitarian work,” he mentioned.
Whereas he emphasised that it was not the aim of an inquest to touch upon such points, he added: “What I can say is the circumstances level to a struggle crime.”
Chris Parry, pictured in Ukraine
In an announcement learn out by the coroner, his mom, Christine Parry, mentioned: “He was notably happy with all the youngsters he saved.
“We had been devastated. We’ll by no means recover from this, we’ll at all times bear in mind him.”
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Chris Parry speaks to Sky Information in November 2022
She mentioned that as his household, they wished to proceed the humanitarian work her son began.
“Ukraine shall be in our hearts endlessly,” she added.
Mr Bagshaw’s household beforehand mentioned they believed there may have been a “darker truth” behind his death.
His father, Professor Philip Bagshaw, instructed Sky Information previous to the inquest that he believed his son was “executed”.
Referencing a autopsy examination for Andrew, he mentioned the outcomes confirmed that his son was shot within the torso and as soon as to the top.
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