An alleged spy died by suicide while under constant supervision, an inquest in Britain has heard. Matthew Trickett was discovered dead days after being released from police custody and placed under 24-hour observation.
Trickett was arrested in May 2023 on suspicion of being a spy and was being investigated by counter-terrorism police. He was reportedly under surveillance and deemed to be at risk of self-harm. Despite these concerns, he was released on bail on May 20, 2023, and was subject to constant observation. The inquest heard that less than 48 hours after his release, Trickett was found dead at his home. A post-mortem examination revealed that Trickett died from self-inflicted strangulation. A police constable testified that Trickett had been subjected to a risk assessment which indicated a high likelihood of self-harm and suicide, leading to the implementation of constant supervision.
Details regarding the nature of the alleged spying activities or the intelligence agency Trickett was accused of working for have not been fully disclosed due to public interest immunity considerations. The inquest continues to examine the circumstances surrounding his death, including the effectiveness of the supervision measures in place and any potential contributing factors.