PLANS for a fresh investigation into the death of a female military police officer have been welcomed by her family.

Cpl Anne-Marie Ellement, 30, from Bournemouth, was found hanged at Bulford Barracks in Wiltshire after accusing two colleagues of raping her.

Her allegations that she had been raped by two fellow Royal Military Police (RMP) soldiers while she was drunk had been investigated by the RMP’s Special Investigations Branch but no charges were brought.

Following her death in October 2011, an inquest recorded a verdict of suicide.

But the High Court subsequently ordered a new inquest and the Ministry of Defence has now confirmed that the RAF Police are conducting a fresh probe into Cpl Ellement’s death.

A civilian police force has also been asked to support the investigation.

Cpl Ellement’s sister Sharon Hardy said: “We’re delighted that the MoD has now agreed to a fresh investigation and we have every confidence in the newly appointed police forces.”

And she added: “Anne-Marie tried to seek justice on her own – sadly she never accomplished her fight and ended up taking her own life.”

In a statement read at the inquest Sharon had said her sister had “never recovered” from being raped.

She also said Anne-Marie had been confident and happy before joining the RMP but had suffered intimidation and harassment during her career.

And she called for individuals at the RMP to be “held to account” if it was found that they had failed in their duty of care to Anne-Marie.