A DECISION on whether or not to prosecute a British soldier over the death of a comrade on an Afghan battlefield is likely to be made next month, a coroner has heard.

The inquest into the death of Lance Corporal James Brynin was halted after hearing six days of evidence earlier this year amid fears it may have been a homicide.

L/Cpl Brynin, 22, who was born in Shoreham, was shot dead on an operation in central Helmand Province on October 15, 2013.

He was part of a troop carrying out intelligence work on the Taliban in the area of Kakaran, north east of Lashkar Gah. Despite receiving immediate medical attention, L/Cpl Brynin, known as Jay, died at the scene.

At an inquest review in Chichester yesterday, West Sussex senior coroner Penelope Schofield heard a decision on whether or not to charge Lance Corporal of Horse Mark Kelly by the Service Prosecuting Authority is likely to be made in the two weeks from September 19.

Parties involved in the case, including L/Cpl Brynin’s family, are likely to find out the decision the following week, the hearing, which was held via conference call, was told.

Ms Schofield set a provisional inquest resumption date of January 16 next year, to be held over two or three days to hear from remaining witnesses.