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| Boris Berezovsky inquest returns open verdict on death | Boris Berezovsky inquest returns open verdict on death |
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| A coroner has recorded an open verdict on the death of Boris Berezovsky after hearing conflicting expert evidence about the way that the Russian oligarch was found hanged. | |
| Police said they found no evidence of foul play during an extensive investigation and a pathologist who conducted a postmortem examination on the businessman's body said he could rule out murder. | Police said they found no evidence of foul play during an extensive investigation and a pathologist who conducted a postmortem examination on the businessman's body said he could rule out murder. |
| But Professor Bern Brinkmann, a German forensic scientist retained by members of the businessman's family, said that his examination of autopsy photographs had led him to conclude that Berezovsky had not taken his own life. | But Professor Bern Brinkmann, a German forensic scientist retained by members of the businessman's family, said that his examination of autopsy photographs had led him to conclude that Berezovsky had not taken his own life. |
| Brinkmann submitted a report to the inquest which included that suggestion that Berezovsky had been murdered by a number of assailants and then suspended by his scarf from the shower rail at his ex-wife's home at Ascot, Berkshire. | Brinkmann submitted a report to the inquest which included that suggestion that Berezovsky had been murdered by a number of assailants and then suspended by his scarf from the shower rail at his ex-wife's home at Ascot, Berkshire. |
| The Berkshire coroner Peter Bedford said he had heard "compelling evidence" to suggest that Berezovsky was capable of taking his own life, that the businessman had been deeply depressed and under enormous financial pressure. Bedford also dismissed parts of the scenario suggested by Brinkmann as "stretching credibility too far". | The Berkshire coroner Peter Bedford said he had heard "compelling evidence" to suggest that Berezovsky was capable of taking his own life, that the businessman had been deeply depressed and under enormous financial pressure. Bedford also dismissed parts of the scenario suggested by Brinkmann as "stretching credibility too far". |
| Nevertheless, he said that after hearing evidence from such an eminent witness, he was not able to conclude that Berezovsky had taken his own life and must record an open verdict. | Nevertheless, he said that after hearing evidence from such an eminent witness, he was not able to conclude that Berezovsky had taken his own life and must record an open verdict. |
| The coroner indicated that had it not been for Brinkmann's evidence, he would have recorded a verdict that Berezovsky, 67, took his own life after plunging into a deep depression following a number of sever financial setbacks. | The coroner indicated that had it not been for Brinkmann's evidence, he would have recorded a verdict that Berezovsky, 67, took his own life after plunging into a deep depression following a number of sever financial setbacks. |
| The most significant blow had been the loss of the high-stakes court battle with Roman Abramovich, the Chelsea football club owner, seven months before his death. "It is clear to me that it had a significant effect both on his finances and ultimately on his mental health," the coroner said. Being obliged to become a guest at his ex-wife's home marked a significant "fall from grace" for a man who has once been fabulously wealthy and who had at one time wielded considerable political power. | The most significant blow had been the loss of the high-stakes court battle with Roman Abramovich, the Chelsea football club owner, seven months before his death. "It is clear to me that it had a significant effect both on his finances and ultimately on his mental health," the coroner said. Being obliged to become a guest at his ex-wife's home marked a significant "fall from grace" for a man who has once been fabulously wealthy and who had at one time wielded considerable political power. |
| Once considered to be Russia's second-richest man, Berezovsky believed he was facing an almost-penniless future after losing his London high court fight with Abramovich over the rightful ownership of the oil group Sibneft. He not only lost the $3bn (£1.8bn) damages claim, he was also left with an estimated £100m legal bill. | Once considered to be Russia's second-richest man, Berezovsky believed he was facing an almost-penniless future after losing his London high court fight with Abramovich over the rightful ownership of the oil group Sibneft. He not only lost the $3bn (£1.8bn) damages claim, he was also left with an estimated £100m legal bill. |
| The inquest heard that he became deeply depressed and suicidal, asking his son Artem how he could choke himself to death and demanding of his bodyguard: "Should I jump or should I cut my vein?'' | The inquest heard that he became deeply depressed and suicidal, asking his son Artem how he could choke himself to death and demanding of his bodyguard: "Should I jump or should I cut my vein?'' |
| During a two-day hearing at Windsor, Bedford heard that painstaking inquiries by detectives and forensic scientists had unearthed no evidence of murder. Microscopic tests of the businessman's skin found no sign of any restraint or defence injuries, while toxicology tests found no trace of any poisons or unexpected substances in his blood or tissues. | During a two-day hearing at Windsor, Bedford heard that painstaking inquiries by detectives and forensic scientists had unearthed no evidence of murder. Microscopic tests of the businessman's skin found no sign of any restraint or defence injuries, while toxicology tests found no trace of any poisons or unexpected substances in his blood or tissues. |
| Berezovsky was found with a length of his favourite black cashmere scarf around his neck, and a second length was tied around a shower rail above his head. | Berezovsky was found with a length of his favourite black cashmere scarf around his neck, and a second length was tied around a shower rail above his head. |
| Forensic scientist Dr Simon Poole told the inquest at Windsor that detailed examination of the tissues of Berezovsky's neck found no sign that he had been throttled before the scarf was put in place, nor were any puncture marks found on his body. He ruled out murder. | Forensic scientist Dr Simon Poole told the inquest at Windsor that detailed examination of the tissues of Berezovsky's neck found no sign that he had been throttled before the scarf was put in place, nor were any puncture marks found on his body. He ruled out murder. |
| As a result of the assassination through polonium poisoning of Berezovsky's associate Alexander Litvinenko in London in November 2006, an examination of the area was carried out by government atomic weapons scientists, but no trace of radiation was found. | As a result of the assassination through polonium poisoning of Berezovsky's associate Alexander Litvinenko in London in November 2006, an examination of the area was carried out by government atomic weapons scientists, but no trace of radiation was found. |
| Other scientists conducted tests on the scarf and the knot used to tie it to the rail. The rail was found not to bend when a 100kg weight was raised on it. | Other scientists conducted tests on the scarf and the knot used to tie it to the rail. The rail was found not to bend when a 100kg weight was raised on it. |
| However, Berezovsky's daughter by his first marriage, Elizaveta Berezovskaya, told the hearing that although she accepted that she had given a number of statements last year in which she stated the her father spoke of suicide before his death, she was no longer certain that he had taken his own life. | However, Berezovsky's daughter by his first marriage, Elizaveta Berezovskaya, told the hearing that although she accepted that she had given a number of statements last year in which she stated the her father spoke of suicide before his death, she was no longer certain that he had taken his own life. |
| Berezovskya also suggested that the Russian government could have been behind his death. After claiming that a number of people who would be "interested" in her father's death, Bedford asked who they might be. "I think we all know," she replied. | Berezovskya also suggested that the Russian government could have been behind his death. After claiming that a number of people who would be "interested" in her father's death, Bedford asked who they might be. "I think we all know," she replied. |
| "I don't think they liked what my father was saying. He was saying that Putin was a danger to the whole world and you can see that now." | "I don't think they liked what my father was saying. He was saying that Putin was a danger to the whole world and you can see that now." |
| Brinkmann said that marks on Berezovsky's neck were not consistent with strangulation through suspension. "The strangulation mark is completely different to the strangulation mark in strangulation mark in hanging," he said. | Brinkmann said that marks on Berezovsky's neck were not consistent with strangulation through suspension. "The strangulation mark is completely different to the strangulation mark in strangulation mark in hanging," he said. |
| Brinkmann suggested that Berezovsky could have been strangled by an assailant in his bedroom. | Brinkmann suggested that Berezovsky could have been strangled by an assailant in his bedroom. |
| The coroner stressed that Brinkmann was not independent and had not examined Berzovsky's body; nor could he accept his suggestion that the a number of assailants had struck – "without any reaction from Mr Berezovsky" – in an open area of the house, suspended the body in the bathroom, and then left without being noticed. | The coroner stressed that Brinkmann was not independent and had not examined Berzovsky's body; nor could he accept his suggestion that the a number of assailants had struck – "without any reaction from Mr Berezovsky" – in an open area of the house, suspended the body in the bathroom, and then left without being noticed. |
| Nevertheless, after hearing the professor's evidence, he said he was unable to record a verdict that was beyond reasonable doubt, as the law requires. | Nevertheless, after hearing the professor's evidence, he said he was unable to record a verdict that was beyond reasonable doubt, as the law requires. |