Money troubles led to man's suicide

MONEY troubles were worrying an elderly St Albans man before he committed suicide, an inquest heard yesterday (Thursday). Peter Curtis, aged 66, was found hanging at his Riverside Court a few days after Christmas. His partner Rita Floyd discovered the

MONEY troubles were worrying an elderly St Albans man before he committed suicide, an inquest heard yesterday (Thursday).

Peter Curtis, aged 66, was found hanging at his Riverside Court a few days after Christmas.

His partner Rita Floyd discovered the body at around 4pm on December 29 and an ambulance crew pronounced Mr Curtis dead on the scene.

Pc Karen Lewis, who was called to the house, found a suicide note upstairs which amounted to an apology addressed to Mrs Floyd.

The cause of death was given as acute asphyxia and a toxicology report revealed only a slight trace of alcohol in Mr Curtis's system.

Mrs Floyd, who kept her financial affairs separate from her partner, said that Mr Curtis had been looking for work for months and had mentioned money worries on several occasions.

She had caught him surfing suicide websites a month prior his death but he had denied any interest in killing himself.

Coroner Edward Thomas recorded that Mr Curtis had taken his own life and said it was clear that he had been worried about financial matters.