Suicide verdict on widower

From the archive, first published Wednesday 11th Apr 2007.

A SON found his widowed father dead with a plastic bag over his head, an inquest has been told.

John Evans, 80, from Cassino Road, Chelmsford, took his own life, coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray recorded at the hearing last Thursday.

Len Jarman, coroner's officer, told the hearing at Chelmsford that Mr Evans had been "down and subdued" since the death of his wife.

He had also been contacted by officers from Essex Police regarding an allegation dating back many years.

Mr Evans' son, David, had been concerned about the lack of contact with his father and went to his house on July 1 last year.

He found his father dead in bed. There was a handwritten note from his father.

A post mortem examination found he had died of suffocation.

Mrs Beasley-Murray recorded a verdict of suicide.

"There were matters troubling him up to his death," she said.