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Shock at 'mercy killing' reaction | Shock at 'mercy killing' reaction |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Presenter Ray Gosling did not think his decision to say on TV that he had killed his ailing lover would cause "many ripples", his solicitor said. | |
Mr Gosling, 70, was arrested on suspicion of murder and questioned on five occasions over 30 hours after the documentary was aired. | |
In the film he said he smothered the man as he lay in a hospital bed dying of Aids "many years ago". | |
Nottinghamshire Police said Mr Gosling had been bailed to a date in April. | |
Lawyer Digby Johnson said Mr Gosling had been "very surprised" at the reaction the BBC East Midlands Inside Out programme had received after it was aired on Monday. | |
'Taken aback' | 'Taken aback' |
"Ray thought it was a fairly short item on a regional television programme and it wouldn't cause many ripples," he said. | "Ray thought it was a fairly short item on a regional television programme and it wouldn't cause many ripples," he said. |
"The very magnitude of the attention really has taken him aback and has perhaps given him cause for thought in itself." | "The very magnitude of the attention really has taken him aback and has perhaps given him cause for thought in itself." |
Mr Johnson added that his client would be on police bail for the next couple of months while detectives sifted through documentation and interviewed other witnesses. | Mr Johnson added that his client would be on police bail for the next couple of months while detectives sifted through documentation and interviewed other witnesses. |
He added: "Ray is really shattered. He is delighted to be out. | He added: "Ray is really shattered. He is delighted to be out. |
"He has not slept a great deal and he has had a lot of things to think about. But he is cock-a-hoop to be released. | "He has not slept a great deal and he has had a lot of things to think about. But he is cock-a-hoop to be released. |
Ray Gosling's solicitor: "He's faced up to it and answered a great deal of questions" | Ray Gosling's solicitor: "He's faced up to it and answered a great deal of questions" |
"He knows it is something that will go on for many months and, in a sense, it will always be with him, but he is delighted to get a break at this stage." | "He knows it is something that will go on for many months and, in a sense, it will always be with him, but he is delighted to get a break at this stage." |
During the programme, Mr Gosling said he had smothered his partner because he was "in terrible, terrible pain". | |
Since then, he has refused to name the man involved but has insisted his decision to speak out publicly was right. | Since then, he has refused to name the man involved but has insisted his decision to speak out publicly was right. |
Aiding or abetting another person's death is illegal in England and Wales under the 1961 Suicide Act, and is punishable by up to 14 years in jail. | Aiding or abetting another person's death is illegal in England and Wales under the 1961 Suicide Act, and is punishable by up to 14 years in jail. |
But Mr Gosling was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of murder and, if convicted, faces a mandatory life sentence. | |
In the documentary Mr Gosling said: "We had a pact - he said if the pain gets bad and if nothing can be done, don't let him linger on." | In the documentary Mr Gosling said: "We had a pact - he said if the pain gets bad and if nothing can be done, don't let him linger on." |
He said he was aware of the possible consequences and had no regrets. | He said he was aware of the possible consequences and had no regrets. |
In the film Mr Gosling said: "It's a terrible situation. I loved him to bits. | In the film Mr Gosling said: "It's a terrible situation. I loved him to bits. |
"I picked up the pillow and smothered him until he was dead. When you love someone, it is difficult to see them suffer." | "I picked up the pillow and smothered him until he was dead. When you love someone, it is difficult to see them suffer." |