Bullet fragments were recovered from the exhumed body of a young soldier who died at Deepcut Barracks and will undergo further testing, an inquest was told.
Private Cheryl James was undergoing initial training when she was found with a bullet wound to her head in November 1995.
The 18-year-old, from Llangollen, North Wales, was one of four soldiers who died at the Surrey barracks between 1995 and 2002 amid claims of bullying and abuse.
Privates James Collinson from Perth, Sean Benton and Geoff Gray also died from gunshot wounds.
Last year High Court judges ordered a fresh inquest into Pte James’s death after they quashed an open verdict recorded in December 1995.
At a pre-inquest review at Woking Coroner’s Court yesterday, coroner Brian Barker QC said Pte James’s body was exhumed at the family’s request.
“Following consideration of the submission made by the family at the last hearing I made an order on June 4,” he said.
“As a result of that the exhumation took place on the 10th of August.
“Cheryl James was reburied after a short ceremony with the close family present.”
A post-mortem examination was carried out by two experts and “metallic fragments” were recovered which will be analysed by a ballistics expert.
The full inquest on February 1 will consider whether a third party was involved in Pte James’s death and what happened on the evening before she died.
It will also address whether there were “shortcomings” with barrack policies on sexual behaviour, supervision of young females, drugs, alcohol and accommodation.
Pte James’s father previously said he believed the families of the four soldiers faced “serious injustice” and he was “disappointed by the delays instigated by Surrey Police” after it asked for the inquest to be adjourned in February.
“There are serious questions that have not been answered and some evidence to suggest uncertainty as to the origin of the bullet,” Des James said.
He added: “You lose a child, there’s no children and then there’s no grandchildren, and so it goes on. It’s very difficult to explain that.”
Another pre-inquest review will take place on December 14.