Ex-corporals charged with rape of Anne-Marie Ellement who later killed herself

Two former corporals have been charged with raping a colleague who later killed herself.

Ex-corporal Thomas Fulton and ex-corporal Jeremy Jones have been charged with the rape of Corporal Anne-Marie Ellement, who killed herself in October 2011, the Service Prosecuting Authority.

They are now to face a court martial hearing "and they have the right to a fair trial", according to a statement announcing the formal charges from director of service prosecutions (DSP) Andrew Cayley.

It adds: "After an initial investigation into the case in 2009 it was referred to the Service Prosecuting Authority (SPA) who decided there was insufficient evidence to prosecute.

"In 2013 at the request of the family the then DSP referred the case to the Crown Prosecution Service for a review. That review was completed earlier this year.

"As a result of the review, and having considered all the available evidence in this case, I am satisfied that there is sufficient evidence to charge the defendants with these offences and that it is in the public and service interest to prosecute them.

"In coming to this decision I have concluded that the original decision by the SPA not to prosecute was wrong."

Cpl Ellement hanged herself at Bulford Barracks in Wiltshire on October 9 2011, two years after she alleged that two soldiers raped her while she was stationed in Germany in November 2009.

The 30-year-old, from Bournemouth, alleged she was then bullied by other female soldiers.