Two soldiers have been charged with the involuntary homicide of 19-year-old Gunner Matthew Psaila who died on February 16 after succumbing to injuries sustained during a military exercise at Chadwick Lakes three days earlier.

Lieutenant Christian Vella, 27, of Zabbar and Lance Bombardier Marvic Peregin, 31, of Pembroke were also charged with committing a crime they were duty bound to prevent as members of the army.

Both are pleading not guilty.

Police Inspector Joseph Agius told the Court proceedings, which were attended by, among others, Gunner Psaila's parents, that the police were told that a gunner who had been in army training had been taken to hospital.

The day was a very cold one and it had even hailed.

The training was being done in three groups of nine, 10 and 10 soldiers. Gunner Psaila was in the group which had nine soldiers. Lt Vella was in charge of the C Company and Lance Bombardier Peregin of the group in which Gunner Psaila was.

Inspector Agius told the Court that before starting the exercise Mr Peregin asked if anyone had difficulty swimming and the only one who said anything was a certain Gunner Galea. The teams then started wading upsteam with a log.

At some point, Gunner Galea started getting hypothermic and Mr Vella said he helped him out of water and put him in a sleeping bag. At round about the same time other soldiers found themselves in difficulty and were also assisted by Mr Peregin.

After all this a head count was carried out and it was realised that Gunner Psaila was missing. They immediately started searching for him and Gunner John Cachia, who was responsible for safety, lifted him out of water. He was given cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Although he had no pulse he eventually coughed up water. An ambulance was called but since it took too long in coming, a Land Rover was emptied to rush the soldier to Mater Dei. On the way, they met the ambulance and Gunner Psaila was transferred to it.

The inspector said that all the safety equipment available to the C Company was with soldiers for their training.

Gunner Roberto Scerri, who was an inspector in one of the other groups during the day of the accident, said there were five life rings, two stretchers, two first aid kids, three ropes and two sleeping bags. The people wading were wearing a helmet, a 5.73 kilogramme rifle, and boots.

The case continues.