Mysterious death of Sherlock Holmes expert

13 April 2012

A leading expert on fictional sleuth Sherlock Holmes grew paranoid that people were plotting against him and trying to smear his name before dying in mysterious circumstances, an inquest heard today.

Richard Lancelyn Green, 50, who co-edited a book about Holmes creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, was found garrotted in his bed surrounded by cuddly toys and a bottle of gin.

He died from asphyxiation after a shoelace garrotte was tightened around his neck using a wooden spoon at his south Kensington home but it is unclear whether or not he killed himself, Westminster Coroner's Court was told.

Coroner Dr Paul Knapman called it a "very unusual death" and recorded an open verdict.

He ruled there was insufficient evidence either to rule in or rule out suicide, murder, or a deviant sexual act taken too far, for causing the death of the former chairman of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London.

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