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| Police probe BBC death confession | Police probe BBC death confession |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A television presenter's on-air confession that he killed his ailing lover is to be investigated by police. | |
| Ray Gosling told the BBC's Inside Out programme he smothered the man who was dying of Aids. | |
| Pressure group Care Not Killing, said it was "bizarre" the BBC had not told police of the admission when it was filmed in December. | Pressure group Care Not Killing, said it was "bizarre" the BBC had not told police of the admission when it was filmed in December. |
| But BBC officials said they are under no obligation to report to police ahead of broadcast. | |
| During a documentary on death and dying the 70-year-old Nottingham filmmaker said he had made a pact with his lover to act if his suffering increased. | During a documentary on death and dying the 70-year-old Nottingham filmmaker said he had made a pact with his lover to act if his suffering increased. |
| In the BBC East Midlands programme, broadcast on Monday, he told how he smothered the man with a pillow while he was in hospital after doctors told him that there was nothing further that could be done for him. | In the BBC East Midlands programme, broadcast on Monday, he told how he smothered the man with a pillow while he was in hospital after doctors told him that there was nothing further that could be done for him. |
| It wasn't clear... whether his lover even wanted to be killed or asked to be. Dr Peter Saunders | It wasn't clear... whether his lover even wanted to be killed or asked to be. Dr Peter Saunders |
| Mr Gosling did not name either his lover or the hospital. | Mr Gosling did not name either his lover or the hospital. |
| Dr Peter Saunders, from Care Not Killing, said Mr Gosling's account sounded like a case "not of assisted suicide but of intentional killing or murder". | Dr Peter Saunders, from Care Not Killing, said Mr Gosling's account sounded like a case "not of assisted suicide but of intentional killing or murder". |
| He said: "It's rather bizarre this was filmed more than two months ago and the BBC has been sitting on it and hasn't informed the police and the case hasn't been investigated. | He said: "It's rather bizarre this was filmed more than two months ago and the BBC has been sitting on it and hasn't informed the police and the case hasn't been investigated. |
| "At the moment all we have is Ray's word there was a pact and it wasn't clear from his description whether his lover even wanted to be killed or asked to be. | "At the moment all we have is Ray's word there was a pact and it wasn't clear from his description whether his lover even wanted to be killed or asked to be. |
| "It's not up to us as the viewing public, on the basis of one very brief selective testimony, to draw conclusions on what might be a very complex case. | "It's not up to us as the viewing public, on the basis of one very brief selective testimony, to draw conclusions on what might be a very complex case. |
| "That's why it's so important all these cases be fully investigated so the true facts can come out." | "That's why it's so important all these cases be fully investigated so the true facts can come out." |
| Ray Gosling: ''The pact was..if nothing could be done, I would not let him linger'' | Ray Gosling: ''The pact was..if nothing could be done, I would not let him linger'' |
| Following the broadcast, police confirmed they had launched an inquiry. | Following the broadcast, police confirmed they had launched an inquiry. |
| A spokesman said: "We were not aware of Mr Gosling's comments until the BBC Inside Out programme was shown. | A spokesman said: "We were not aware of Mr Gosling's comments until the BBC Inside Out programme was shown. |
| "We are now liaising with the BBC and will investigate the matter." | "We are now liaising with the BBC and will investigate the matter." |
| A BBC spokesman said the organisation will co-operate fully with the investigation. | A BBC spokesman said the organisation will co-operate fully with the investigation. |
| They said Mr Gosling's "secret" was not known before he was commissioned to make the report on death and dying, adding: "The first the BBC knew of this incident was during filming for the programme that was broadcast on 15 Feb 2010. | They said Mr Gosling's "secret" was not known before he was commissioned to make the report on death and dying, adding: "The first the BBC knew of this incident was during filming for the programme that was broadcast on 15 Feb 2010. |
| "The BBC is under no legal obligation to refer the matter to the police in these circumstances." | "The BBC is under no legal obligation to refer the matter to the police in these circumstances." |
| In the film Mr Gosling describes smothering his lover. | In the film Mr Gosling describes smothering his lover. |
| 'Terrible situation' | 'Terrible situation' |
| He said: "I said to the doctor: 'Leave me just for a bit,' and he went away. | He said: "I said to the doctor: 'Leave me just for a bit,' and he went away. |
| "I picked up the pillow and smothered him until he was dead. | "I picked up the pillow and smothered him until he was dead. |
| "The doctor came back and I said: 'He's gone.' Nothing more was ever said. | "The doctor came back and I said: 'He's gone.' Nothing more was ever said. |
| "When you love someone, it is difficult to see them suffer." | "When you love someone, it is difficult to see them suffer." |
| Mr Gosling said he was aware of the possible consequences and had no regrets. | Mr Gosling said he was aware of the possible consequences and had no regrets. |
| He said: "It's a terrible situation. I loved him to bits. | He said: "It's a terrible situation. I loved him to bits. |
| "We had a pact - he said if the pain gets bad and if nothing can be done, don't let him linger on. | "We had a pact - he said if the pain gets bad and if nothing can be done, don't let him linger on. |
| "I don't think it's a crime. | "I don't think it's a crime. |
| "If he was looking down on me now he would be proud." | "If he was looking down on me now he would be proud." |
| Sarah Wootton, chief executive of Dignity in Dying, said: "This case yet again demonstrates that this is a real and present problem, which can affect us all. | Sarah Wootton, chief executive of Dignity in Dying, said: "This case yet again demonstrates that this is a real and present problem, which can affect us all. |
| "Crucially, Ray Gosling's loved one was terminally ill and clearly asked for help to die when he was suffering unbearably at the end of his life. | "Crucially, Ray Gosling's loved one was terminally ill and clearly asked for help to die when he was suffering unbearably at the end of his life. |
| "This illustrates a need for formal assisted dying legislation to help those who want choice at the end of life, as well as protect people who may be vulnerable to coercion." | "This illustrates a need for formal assisted dying legislation to help those who want choice at the end of life, as well as protect people who may be vulnerable to coercion." |
| Assisted suicide remains a criminal offence, but interim guidelines issued in September by the director of public prosecutions set out the factors which weigh in favour of and against prosecution in different cases in England and Wales. | Assisted suicide remains a criminal offence, but interim guidelines issued in September by the director of public prosecutions set out the factors which weigh in favour of and against prosecution in different cases in England and Wales. |
| • The interview with Ray Gosling was broadcast on BBC One's Inside Out East Midlands programme on Monday evening. | • The interview with Ray Gosling was broadcast on BBC One's Inside Out East Midlands programme on Monday evening. |
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