![\"Jaysley](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/skynews-jaysley-beck-michael-webb_7067901.jpg\")
<\/p>\nTwo senior Army officers have denied charges brought following the death of a young soldier who took her own life after a sexual assault by a superior. <\/p>\n
The officers are facing allegations over their handling of information before Jaysley Beck was found hanged in her barracks in Larkhill Camp, Wiltshire, in 2021.<\/p>\n
Colonel Samantha Shepherd and Major James Hook appeared at the Military Court Centre at Catterick Garrison, in North Yorkshire, by video-link on Wednesday, where they both denied “conduct prejudicial to good order and service discipline”.<\/p>\n
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Image:
\n Jaysley Beck at her passing out parade. Pic: Centre for Military Justice\/PA<\/p>\n
Former senior non-commissioned officer Michael Webber, 43, was jailed for six months by a military court<\/a> last year after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting Gunner Beck five months before her death.<\/p>\n An inquest into the 19-year-old’s death found the incident and the Army’s failure to take appropriate action “more than minimally” contributed to her death<\/a>.<\/p>\n On Wednesday, Shepherd pleaded not guilty to two charges of conduct prejudicial to good order and service discipline.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n The first alleges that “on 13 July, 2021, and thereafter, you did not report the commission of an alleged sexual assault to the service police in respect of a suspect within the regiment of which you were regimental colonel”.<\/p>\n The second alleges that “on a date in July 2021, you misreported what you had been told by Jaysley Beck” to another person.<\/p>\n Hook pleaded not guilty to one charge of the same offence.<\/p>\n This alleges that “on 13 July 2021, you did not treat information passed to yourself by Jaysley Beck in a manner consistent with its seriousness”.<\/p>\n Read more from Sky News: Share<\/p>\n \n Beck’s mother Leighann McCready speaking in 2025<\/p>\n Judge Adjutant General Alan Large told the defendants they will go on trial on 14 September, but it has not yet been decided whether the five-day hearing will be at Catterick or at Bulford Camp in Wiltshire.<\/p>\n A further case management hearing will be held on 23 June.<\/p>\n The judge was told Hook is serving with 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery and Shepherd, who appeared from the US, is serving with the British Defence Staff in the country.<\/p>\n Image: A number of Gunner Beck’s family were on the link listening to the 20-minute hearing.<\/p>\n Her mother, Leighann McCready, has described her daughter as a “kind, caring, and truly loved by everyone who knew her”.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n![\"Jaysley](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/skynews-jaysley-bck-michael-webber_7067899.jpg\")
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\n Jaysley Beck and her mother Leighann McCready. Pic: Family handout\/PA<\/p>\n