Military court judge blasts top brass on HMS Queen Elizabeth after ... trends now
A judge at a military court has blasted disciplinary procedures on board Royal Navy flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth after a case was delayed by 11 months - 'claiming it would have been quicker to send a carrier pigeon'.
Assistant Judge Advocate Jane England described processes on board the £3.1 billion aircraft carrier as 'unacceptable' and delays in the case coming to court martial as 'lamentable'.
She made the comments during a case at Bulford Military Court concerning a senior officer who punched a junior sailor while he was lying on the floor following a party commemorating the Battle of Trafalgar on board the carrier.
Chief Petty Officer [CPO] Michael Smith, 48, who has been in the Navy for 22 years, punched Leading Aircraft Engineering Technician [LAET] Jordan Street during the ship's first operational deployment.
Chief Petty Officer Michael Smith, 48, pictured arriving at Bulford Military Court after an 11-month delay
The incident occurred on the flagship aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth's first deployment
He shoved the junior engineer and hit him as he lay on the floor during a 'Pickle Night' celebration in a senior sailors' mess on HMS Queen Elizabeth, the court heard.
LAET Street had been working at the Navy party for senior sailors but was kicked out and assaulted by CPO Smith who saw he was drunk and chatting in an 'animated' way to senior rates.
As CPO Smith appealed his demotion, Judge England criticised the 11 month delay in dealing with the case on board HMS Queen Elizabeth, and said it was a 'mitigating' factor in CPO Smith's case.
Sitting at Bulford Military Court, Wilts, she said: 'The ship must review the way it deals with summary hearings.
'The delay is lamentable.
'It was hanging over both you and LAET Street for 11 months which is unacceptable.
'Despite the communications problems [the ship was experiencing,] the delay was due to poor administration by your ship, it
