Suicide man suffered depression

11:01am Monday 23rd April 2001

A CHISLEHURST man may have killed himself because he had been cheated in business, a coroner's court heard.

Eugene Carter, 47, was found hanging by a belt in the bedroom of his home in Beachwood Rise, Chislehurst, by his wife Selina on February 9.

Speaking at Croydon Coroner's Court, Carter's GP, Dr Geoffrey Barker told Deputy Coroner, John Sampson: “My belief is he had substantial worries and had probably been cheated in business.”

The doctor told of the dead man's depressive illness and perpetual state of anxiety, for which he was prescribed medication. Carter was suffering from the effects of alcohol and drug abuse.

At the time of Carter's death it was reported he was being investigated by the Serious Crimes Group and was also wanted in connection with a vicious attack on Chislehurst High Street.

In a written statement, Mrs Carter told how she had said goodnight to her husband who had been sitting up in bed drinking beer. When she went to his room in the morning and found him hanging, she cuddled him and phoned for an ambulance.

PC Sarah Wilkinson said he tied a belt around his neck and linked it to a loft ladder hatch.

The cause of death was given as asphyxia and the coroner recorded a verdict of suicide while the balance of the mind was disturbed.

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