Rebuked Digger Ashley Baker shot himself in East Timor

AN Australian soldier in East Timor shot himself in the head after a "dressing-down" by a superior, a military inquiry has heard.

AN Australian soldier on tour in East Timor shot himself in the head after being given a "dressing-down" by a superior, a military commission of inquiry has heard.

Private Ashley Baker, 19, was summoned to a sergeant's office and reprimanded for leaving his rifle unattended overnight in a communal area of the Australian army barracks in Dili. Three hours later, on November 5 last year, he locked himself in the toilet cubicle and killed himself. The inquiry was told that during the dressing-down, Baker's rifle was "thrust" into his arms and he was asked to explain why he left it unsupervised overnight.

"Private Baker was given a dressing-down by his platoon sergeant for leaving his weapon insecure," counsel assisting the military commission Michael Griffin said yesterday.

"(It was) the latest and most serious matter in a series of recent disciplinary problems."

The inquiry heard that Baker, from Calliope in central Queensland, had previously had disciplinary action instituted against him for being late for duty while on training in Townsville.

In the months before his death, Baker had also had his civilian driver's licence suspended, been reprimanded for not wearing a long-sleeve shirt at night, and had been reported for speaking disrespectfully to a corporal.

After the "dressing-down" at 9am on November 5, three days after his 19th birthday, the inquiry heard that Baker sat brooding for two hours in an administration area of the army barracks. "He was observed to be quiet, did not engage in conversation," Colonel Griffin told the commission.

At 11.30am, Baker walked into the toilet block at the barracks. Ten minutes later, soldiers heard automatic fire coming from the block. A fellow soldier who ran inside found Baker lying in a fetal position on the floor with a severe gunshot injury to the head.

Colonel Griffin said Baker had shot himself in the forehead.

A toxicology report had found no traces of alcohol or drugs in Baker's blood, the inquiry heard.

Baker's family applied unsuccessfully yesterday to have the commission of inquiry held in private. They said they accepted the facts surrounding their son's death were not controversial and they did not want the personal circumstances that led to the soldier's death aired in public.

In a statement, Ian and Kylie Baker said they hoped the inquiry would help them to understand the events prior to the shooting. "We are very proud of our son Ashley - what he achieved in his short life and how he lived his life," Mr and Mrs Baker said.

"We hope through the inquiry to know and understand as much as possible of the circumstances leading up to our son's death."

Baker was posted to the second battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment in November 2006 and was serving with the Timor-Leste battle group when he died.

The inquiry, which is being held before barrister Andrew Kirkham QC in Darwin, is expected to last 10 days.