A Military Board of Inquiry investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Corporal Stuart Jones in East Timor last year has released its findings.

On 9 August 2000, Corporal Jones, of the Second Cavalry Regiment, sustained a fatal gunshot wound to his chest. Corporal Jones was on an operational tour in East Timor and was travelling in the rear of an armoured vehicle at the time of the incident.

Corporal Jones and other members of a reconnaissance scout section had been patrolling along a creek bed in AO Simpson near Maliana in East Timor. On the afternoon of 9 August 2000, the section entered an ASLAV that was to take them to a new patrol area. As the vehicle moved off there was a loud noise and it was discovered that Corporal Jones had been shot. The vehicle stopped, first aid commenced immediately and emergency medical assistance was called.

A medical team arrived and treated Corporal Jones at the scene. He was then placed in a medivac BLACKHAWK helicopter and flown to the UN Military Hospital in Dili. Tragically, while the aircraft was flying to the hospital Corporal Jones died.

After detailed testing by both ADF technicians and a weapons expert from the Northern Territory Police, the Board found that there was no failure on the part of the Steyr or the ammunition and that these did not cause or contribute to the incident.

The Board made recommendations about a number of matters including training and procedures for the handling of weapons, recognition of the effects of fatigue, modification of manuals and recognition of personnel who rendered assistance to Corporal Jones. The Chief of Defence Force, Admiral Chris Barrie, has reviewed the recommendations and Defence is now in the process of implementing changes to procedures based on the recommendations.

Action has already been taken within Land Command and Training Command to modify or reinforce training manuals and courses to take into account the recommendations of the Board. SOPs and SOVOs dealing with weapon readiness states when travelling in vehicles have also been amended in accordance with the Board's recommendations.

The Chief and all members of the Army offer their deepest sympathies to the family and friends of CPL Stuart MacMillan Jones.