The man behind the headlines: Who is Chris Carter?

FORMER Soldier Chris Carter has been acquitted of double-murder. But it has been revealed he was deemed “psychologically unsuitable” for the Australian Army during his service.

SOLDIER Chris Carter was deemed “psychologically unsuitable” for the Australian Army after engaging in “irrational behaviours” while in East Timor.

He was recommended for discharge more than a decade before the death of his ex-wife and her partner, Army sources told the Gold Coast Bulletin.

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Carter was never discharged and instead given a second chance, going on to become one of the Army’s top-ranking soldiers.

The 39-year-old yesterday walked free from court after being acquitted of the murder of Renee Carter and Corey Croft at their Upper Coomera home on January 20, 2015.

A soldier who served with Carter told the Bulletin Carter was found to be “psychologically unsuitable” for service after engaging in “irrational behaviours” while in East Timor between 2000-01.

Private Christopher Carter who was involved in grenade attack in East Timor.

Carter was also investigated by the Army after pulling apart a flare and removing the pin from his own grenade, which later detonated causing him to be hospitalised and sent home from East Timor.

He also used another soldier’s credit card after being injured by his own grenade to ensure he was sent back to Australia, Army sources said.

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Carter served in the Army between August 1999 and 2012 before re-enlisting in 2014.

During his service he was deployed four times — twice to East Timor, once to Tonga and served as a section commander in Iraq in 2007.

Christopher Carter

In 2001, when he returned from serving in the rifle section of the First Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment in East Timor, officers raised concerns about the then 23-year-old’s common sense and ability to cope.

In 2001, Carter was on security watch with another soldier when he claimed the pin accidentally fell out of the grenade before he lost hold of the explosive and it detonated, Army sources said.

After his return from East Timor, a psychologist deemed Carter “not a suitable soldier”.

It was recommended he be discharged from the Army after the completion of any disciplinary proceedings relating to the grenade incident.

Former soldier Christopher Carter walks from court, a free man. Picture: AAP Image/Glenn Hunt

After being given a second chance, in 2004, Carter completed a Battalion Reconnaisance course with flying colours and was deemed a student of merit.

In 2006, Carter was deployed again to East Timor before serving in Iraq in 2007.

He worked as a butcher until re-enlisting in 2014.

Carter was returning home from his first day in the rank of soldier at Canungra Army Barracks when he visited stabbed Renee Carter and Corey Croft to death in their Skylark St home in January 2015.

THE COUPLE

CHRISTOPHER Carter’s fiancee, Angela Slade, appears to be stronger than most.

For two weeks, she sat quietly behind the dock while the man she loved stood trial for double murder.

Former soldier Christopher Carter leaves the Brisbane Supreme Court with his fiancee (blue shirt). Picture: AAP Image/Glenn Hunt

Every day he’d arrive from the cells and ask her how she was.

She’d answer and check if he was going all right.

Despite the glass partition between them, it was closest she’d been to him for a long time.

Ms Slade, who has been with Carter for several years, has spent almost as much time living under the same roof as Carter as she did making visits to him in prison.

Not many women would stick by a man who was behind bars for two years awaiting trial for the double-murder of his ex-wife Renee Carter and her boyfriend Corey Croftand, but Ms Slade did.

As the pair left the Brisbane Supreme Court yesterday hand-in-hand after Carter was acquitted of murder, their relief was palpable.