THE head of the Army’s Special Investigations Branch in Iraq, involved in a huge workload, was found hanging by a bootlace in his barracks room, an inquest was told.

Captain Kenneth Masters, 40, who commanded 61 Section of the Royal Military Police’s Special Investigation Branch, had become “stressed and frustrated”, the inquest at Swindon was told yesterday.

He had been involved in investigations into allegations of abusive treatment of Iraqi detainees by British soldiers.

The body of Captain Masters, who had sought medical help, was found at the base at Basra airport in October.

Warrant Officer Philip Floyd told the court: “He was very conscientious. He had a sense of frustration in that the procedures we had to conduct in the inquiries were hindered by forces outside of our control.” He did not explain what he meant by that phrase but the Royal Military Police had to investigate every incident where British troops had opened fire and civilians had been wounded or killed.

Captain Masters seemed to think he had disappointed others, the warrant officer said. When a soldier was found drunk on duty he took personal charge of the inquiry.

“He took it very personally and worried that it would lead to disciplinary action. He became more and more indecisive but I never picked up anything from members of the section that was disparaging.”

In the officers’ mess the day before he died he was withdrawn. “He said he had been having a difficult time and that he had some personal circumstances but didn’t elaborate,” Warrant Officer Floyd said.

The inquest continues.

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