NEWPORT MAN DIED AFTER SELF-INFLICTED GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE CHEST INQUEST HEARS

An inquest into the death of a 74-year-old man from Newport has heard that he used a firearm to take his own life.

Geoffrey Colin Brown was found dead in the back garden of his home on Pan Estate in March of this year.

As previously reported by Island Echo, a large emergency service response descended on Pan Close at around 15:30 on Wednesday 2nd March after reports were received of a body found at the address.

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Police, Ambulance, and Armed Response officers were all mobilised to the incident, entering the property after it was deemed safe to do so. However, despite the best efforts of medics, Brown was sadly pronounced deceased at the scene.

At the inquest – conducted by Coroner Caroline Sumeray – the official cause of death was declared as a single gunshot wound to the chest. It was heard during proceedings that the shot was fired at a very close distance to the chest and caused injuries to the ribs, sternum and lungs.

The 74-year-old  had a history of diabetes and leukaemia and had worked as a civil servant before retiring, living at the Pan Close address for some considerable time.

Brown had prepared a letter addressed to the coroner before he decided to take his own life.

The post-mortem examination into his death was concluded on 2nd November.

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No family members were present at the inquest, and a verdict was reached in a timely manner due to no contentious evidence.

The coroner concluded that the decision to take his own life was a deliberate one with a deliberate outcome of which Geoffrey was sadly, fully aware.