Fears collapse of trial could discourage reporting of assaults in UK armed forces

Col Samantha Shepherd and Maj James Hook had faced a court martial for how they responded to the assault carried out on Gunner Jaysley Beck, pictured, by a superior while on a training exercise. Photograph: PA

The family of a teenage soldier who killed herself after she was sexually assaulted fear the collapse of the trial of two officers accused of failing to investigate her case properly could discourage other young members of the armed forces from reporting attacks.

Relatives of Gunner Jaysley Beck, 19, said it felt like the end of a “long and sad” journey and expressed concern that during the trial a military witness described the assault as not being out of the ordinary.