A ‘PERFECT’ Dorset soldier was ‘murdered’ by Afghan insurgents while out on patrol, an inquest heard.

Trooper Andrew Howarth, 20, died instantly when the six-tonne armoured vehicle he was driving was blown up by an IED, trapping him underneath.

The Wimborne man, right, and comrades from Fondouck Squadron of the Queen’s Royal Lancers were on their way back to base on September 18 last year having spent two days out in the deserts of Helmand Province helping oversee elections.

Sergeant Andrew Jones, from the Royal Engineers, also died after being thrown from the Jackal 2 as it crossed a dry canal, Wiltshire Coroner’s Court heard.

Fellow soldiers up ahead rushed back to help when they heard the 20 to 25 kilograms of explosives go off.

Trooper Howarth’s body was freed from the wreckage using ropes and placed on a stretcher so his comrades could say goodbye to him and airlifted to Camp Bastion hospital.

His parents John and Sarah were at yesterday’s hearing.

Recording a death of unlawful killing while on active service, Coroner David Ridley said he believed the Jackal’s two front wheels triggered the IED’s pressure plates, rather than remotely operated.

“In the remote possibility a group of individuals were brought before the courts, the charge levelled would be of murder,” he told the court.

“In plain English, both Andrew Jones and Andrew Howarth were murdered by the actions of insurgents.”

Lieutenant Colonel Martin Todd, commanding officer of the Queen’s Royal Lancers, described Trooper Howarth, whose father, uncle and grandfather were Lancers, as the ‘perfect reconaissance soldier’.

Captain Jonny Clayton who had trained with Trooper Howarth before their four months active service wept as his tribute to his ‘brother in arms’ was read out.