5:10pm Monday 24th August 2009
By Michelle Archard
THE family of a man who died seven years ago at a weapons testing centre are still waiting for an inquest to clear up unanswered questions.
Terry Jupp, 46, died in 2002 from injuries sustained from a blast on Ministry of Defence land at Foulness Island.
A month-long jury inquest was due to be held in October to hear the circumstances surrounding his death.
But last week Terry Lunn, coroner’s officer for Southend and Essex, said: “Due to technical issues the inquest in October has been postponed. It is doubtful it will be held this year.”
Mr Jupp’s father Roy told a national newspaper: “It has been a very long time. It is excessive. We’ve made our feelings known and it has been accepted.”
Mr Jupp, who was married with two children, worked as a chemist for the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory.
On August 14, 2002, he took part in an experiment at a firing range at Newlands Battery to try to replicate the home-made bombs used by terrorists.
Mr Jupp, from Hatfield, Hertfordshire, suffered horrific injuries when it exploded.
He was airlifted to Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford with 60 to 90 per cent burns to his body, before being transferred to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital burns unit.
He died of septicaemia from his injuries six days later.
After an investigation by MoD police and the Health and Safety Executive, two scientists who were managing the tests were charged with gross negligence and manslaughter in 2005.
Maurice Marshall and Robert Weighill were due to stand trial at the Old Bailey, accused of failing to protect Mr Jupp or warn him how dangerous the explosive charge was.
Both denied the accusation.
The case against Mr Weighill was dropped in August 2005 and in March 2007 the Crown Prosecution Service discontinued its case against Mr Marshall.
Both men are expected to give evidence at the inquest.
Dr Peter Dean, coroner for Southend and south-east Essex, explained the volume of paperwork was to blame for the delays.
He said: “A vast amount of documentation resulted from the inquiry, but by virtue of its highly-sensitive nature and the time taken to censor it where required, the bulk of it was only released to myself as the coroner and the other interested persons in the past year.
“I have also raised my own questions which have had to be looked at.
“I share with the Jupp family the wish to hear this inquest at the earliest possible opportunity ”
It is not yet known if the inquest will be held in private for national security reasons.
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