In the cutscene conversation triggered when you first approach the two people there, siding with the healer gives you an experience point bonus (which isn't terribly critical since opponents spawn in some regions of Aleroth). If you side with the soldier, he will burn the bodies once you leave the area, and you can get the key when you return (though as Stabbey said, the contents of the nearby locked chest are relatively poor quality random loot).
