Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky was not murdered, pathologist tells inquest

 
28 March 2014

The pathologist who examined the body of Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky today ruled out any suggestion of murder.

Dr Simon Poole told the inquest that the cause of death was hanging which was “likely to have been self inflicted.”

He said there was no evidence of defence wounds on the body or clawing at the neck or signs of a violent struggle.

A bruise on the back of Mr Berezovsky’s head was consistent with him hitting himself on the bathroom radiator as he fell.

A fractured rib had probably been caused in a similar way when Mr Berezovsky’s body struck the side of the bath after death, the court heard.

Robert Bone, a forensic scientist specialising in knots and ligatures, told the court: “There is nothing to suggest any involvement of another party in the death.”

Two toxicology specialists also concluded that no poison had been taken or injected by Mr Berezovsky before death.

There was also no indication that he was under the influence of drink or drugs, the court heard.

Earlier the inquest heard Berezovsky’s daughter blamed his doctors.

Elizaveta Berezovskaya stressed that her father had been found dead six days after he had stopped taking antidepressants.

She confirmed that he had been depressed after losing his High Court legal battle with Roman Abramovich in 2012, followed by him being sued by his then-girlfriend Yelena Gorbunova.

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As a result, this man of “strength and courage” changed to being withdrawn and morose because of his “loss of dignity,” she said.

Mr Berezovsky was found dead, aged 67, in the bathroom of Titness Park, Sunninghill, near Ascot in March last year.

Ms Berezovskaya told the inquest at Guildhall, Windsor, that the family had been pleased he had consulted a psychiatrist a few weeks before his death.

The court has heard that Mr Berezovsky was told to come off the antidepressants because of fears they were damaging his liver.

But his daughter told the court today: “It is clear he had a severe depression which could have caused him to commit suicide.

“If that is found to be the case why was he not offered counselling?

“Why was he not forcibly admitted to hospital? Why did the doctors do nothing when he cancelled appointments? And why did they allow him to stop taking antidepressants?”

When Coroner Peter Bedford asked her if she believed the doctors had not done enough to prevent what was to happen, she replied: “Yes.”

She added: “If we find out through this hearing that my father committed suicide and that was because of depression then I have these questions to the doctors. How come we were not told about such high risk?”

The inquest continues.

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