A BRITISH soldier who fatally shot a comrade in a "friendly fire" incident on an Afghan battlefield will forever have "blood on his hands", the dead man's family said following an inquest.

Lance Corporal James Brynin, 22, was part of a troop carrying out intelligence work on the Taliban in the Kakaran area, north east of Lashkar Gah, when he died in a "blue-on-blue" shooting on October 15, 2013.

After coming under enemy attack, Lance Corporal of Horse Mark Kelly fired in the wrong direction and shot Shoreham-born L/Cpl Brynin, of Pulborough, who died from a gunshot wound to his face and neck.

Recording a narrative verdict, West Sussex senior coroner Penelope Schofield said L/Cpl of Horse Kelly "did not take sufficient care and fired in rapid succession" while resting his gun on the helmet of another soldier.

Ruling out an unlawful killing, Ms Schofield added: "These actions contributed to the fact that this soldier fired in the wrong direction, causing fatal injuries to L/Cpl Brynin."

Outside Arundel Town Hall, L/Cpl Brynin's father Efrem Brynin said the family blamed L/Cpl of Horse Kelly for the death, and blasted the Ministry of Defence for a "lack of empathy".

Mr Brynin told reporters: "It is, and has always been our opinion, that Kelly knew what he had done within moments of firing the round that killed our son James.

"Rather than acknowledging he did wrong, he instead chose to step back.

"The simple fact remains that his errors led directly to our son's death. He has, and will forever have, James's blood on his hands."

The inquest was halted last year to allow service police to decide whether the death may have been homicide.

But L/Cpl Brynin's family were told last November 30 there was "insufficient evidence" to prosecute L/Cpl of Horse Kelly.

Mr Brynin blasted the MoD for their treatment, adding: "It seems incredible to us that we should have to speak out for our dead son whilst the MoD has sought to excuse itself of any wrongdoing."

In her conclusion, Ms Schofield said L/Cpl of Horse Kelly believed he was firing at an insurgent, but was disorientated and must have fired in the wrong direction.

He accepted he made a "massive mistake" but felt an imminent threat to life, she added.

Ms Schofield said: "I do feel that (L/Cpl of Horse Kelly) did at the time he fired honestly believed that he was engaged with an armed Taliban fighter and that the force used could not be described as unreasonable."