A soldier who died while on guard duty was armed with a rifle, an inquest has heard.

Private Darren Leslie, 28, from Northern Ireland, was found dead at St David’s Barracks at Graven Hill, Bicester, last Friday. An inquest into his death was opened at Oxford Coroner’s Court yesterday.

Coroner Darren Salter said Pte Leslie, above, had been assigned guard duty on the day of his death and had been given a rifle.

The inquest, which was adjourned until February 9, heard a post mortem examination showed he died of a gunshot wound.