Retired farmer, 90, who was found dead in slurry pit took his own life hours after changing his will so his ‘£2m estate’ was left to his son and daughter
- John Charles Barnett’s body found by a diver at Hully Farm near Whitchurch
- He’d changed his will and left house said to be worth £2million to his family
- A coroner has recorded a conclusion of suicide over the death of the 90-year-old
- For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or go to samaritans.org
A 90-year-old retired farmer who was found dead in a slurry pit took his own life hours after changing his will, an inquest has heard.
John Charles Barnett’s overturned mobility scooter was found on the edge of a lagoon. His body was found by a diver at Hully Farm near Whitchurch, Shropshire.
The pensioner known as ‘Charlie’, from Tybroughton near Whitchurch, had visited a solicitor at Chester with his children and changed his will just hours before his body was found on January 2, 2020.
He left £20,000 to farmworker Nigel Byrne and the rest of his estate including a house said to be worth £2 million to his family. A previous hearing said he had divided the remainder of his estate between his son and daughter.
A coroner has now recorded a conclusion of suicide.
John Charles Barnett’s body was found by a diver at Hully Farm near Whitchurch, Shropshire
Hully Farm near Whitchurch on the Wales/Shropshire border, where Mr Barnett was found in a slurry pit
Home Office pathologist Dr Jonathan Metcalfe said it wasn’t possible to determine how Mr Barnett became immersed in the slurry pit.
However, there were no overtly suspicious injuries to suggest a violent assault or extensive dragging or handling of his body.
A police diver found the body about 13ft away from an overturned mobility scooter.
Jennifer Parry-Jones and Robert Barnett, John Charles Barnett’s daughter and son
Nigel Byrne arriving at the inquest into Mr Barnett’s death, who was left £20,000
Coroner John Gittins said at Ruthin : ‘There’s no evidence to indicate that Nigel Byrne played a part in the death of John Charles Barnett.
‘There’s no evidence to indicate the family of Charlie were involved in the death and no evidence which indicates any third party was involved.’
He added : ‘I am satisfied this was a deliberate act on his part and he did so with the intention of bringing his life to an end.’
For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or go to samaritans.org
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