Secret explosives tests in which a blast killed a Ministry of Defence scientist were inappropriately planned and appeared to have been inadequately organised, an inquest jury found today.
The jurors made a number of criticisms of the trial, in which Terry Jupp was involved, at a testing station near Shoeburyness, Essex, in August 2002.
They concluded that planning and risk assessment had been inappropriate, that a small-scale test could have been carried out in advance, that adequate regard was not paid to personal protective equipment, and that communication and organisation at the trials appeared inadequate.
Jupp, 46, who worked for the MoD's Defence, Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL), was involved in explosives tests aimed at combating terrorists in the months after the 9/11 attacks in the US, the inquest in Southend heard. Much of the hearing was held in secret to prevent the disclosure of sensitive information, and the chemicals involved in the fatal test were referred to only as A, B and C.
Jurors heard that Jupp and colleagues had just finished mixing the three chemicals when the explosion occurred. He suffered severe burns and died a week later in hospital.
The tests were part of joint experiments between British and US experts, the inquest heard. One witness said the results could be "catastrophic" if information about the testing fell into the wrong hands.
Jupp's widow Pat said she thought the jury had assessed the evidence correctly.
"I think the jury got it right," she said.
"I don't want anything like this to ever happen again."
She added that had never been able to discuss the sensitive nature of the work with her husband, and that listening to evidence about his death had been "extremely harrowing".
Pat Jupp said she felt satisfied by recommendations made for improvements following an inquiry into her husband's death.
"The Ministry of Defence have lost a highly experienced, loyal, dedicated scientist," she said.
"I feel very proud in the knowledge that he helped to save thousands of lives doing the research work that he carried out."
She said she felt the inquest had been a "fair and thorough" inquiry and she was "very pleased" with the outcome.