Death of ex-Royal Australian Navy sailor to be examined in upcoming Hobart inquest

An inquest will soon be held into the death of a former Royal Australian Navy sailor, a Tasmanian man who apparently died by suicide after his discharge from service.

The death of a former Royal Australian Navy sailor will soon be examined in an upcoming Hobart inquest.

An inquest will soon be held into the death of a former Royal Australian Navy sailor, a Tasmanian man who apparently died by suicide after his discharge from service.

Benjamin Laurence Marshall died in October 2019, with Tasmania’s Coronial Division undertaking a “lengthy” and “thorough” investigation over whether there was a connection between his military service, his discharge and his death.

Mr Marshall served in the navy between 2010 and 2017.

In a recently-published ruling, Coroner Simon Cooper determined the scope of the inquest would include Mr Marshall’s recruitment into the navy, the level and quality of mental health care provided to him by the Australian Defence Force (ADF), and the circumstances leading to his medical discharge based on a psychiatric condition.

The inquest will also look at the transitional help the ADF provided to help Mr Marshall navigate his medical discharge and transition back into civilian life, as well as the help given by RSL LifeCare Veteran Services.

An administrative, pre-inquest hearing will be held in Hobart on Friday.

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