From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] EX-MARINE CLEARED OF `PISTOL IN MOUTH' CHARGE 141556 FEB 10 By Chris Court, PA News. A former Royal Marine NCO was today cleared by a jury of making a teenage recruit suck the muzzle of a 9 millimetre pistol at a training base. David Everall, 33, was alleged to have put the Browning weapon into the mouth of Brian Bannister at the Commando Training Centre at Lympstone, Devon, in 1991. Everall, now a prison officer, of Gothic Close, Basford, Nottingham, was cleared at Exeter Crown Court of causing actual bodily harm to Mr Bannister, and an alternative charge of affray, using or threatening violence towards him. After the trial Everall said: "I am overwhelmed at the outcome." He said he had been "gobsmacked" by the allegation, and added: "I can now carry on with my life with my partner and get back to work." Mr Bannister, 17 at the time of the alleged incident, had told the jury he believed the pistol was loaded and Everall was going to kill him. Everall, who left the Corps as a Sergeant with an "exemplary" character, had told the court allegation was a "kick in the teeth" and he was "totally flabbergasted" by it. He said he did not remember Mr Bannister, and had no recollection of either putting a gun near someone's face, or making them take the weapon in their mouth. Everall told the court that when police first put the allegation to him he thought it was one of his former comrades "having a bit of a gag". Everall, who served with the Royal Marines at bases in Arbroath and Deal, and in Northern Ireland and aboard HMS Endurance, had been suspended by the prison service for the last 12 months pending the outcome of the trial. Kenneth Pantling Cybershooters website: http://www.cybershooters.org List admin: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ____________________________________________________________ T O P I C A -- Learn More. Surf Less. Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Topics You Choose. http://www.topica.com/partner/tag01
