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19/03/2010
Suicide Conductor's Son Faces No Charges
No charges will be brought against the children of Sir Edward and Lady Downes, who took their own lives Switzerland last year.
The Director of Public Prosecutions said today that Sir Edward, a renowned conductor, and his wife Joan flew to the Dignitas Clinic on 10 July 2009 to end their lives together.
Lady Downes, 74, was suffering from a terminal illness.
Police investigated the role of the Downes's children Caractacus and Boudicca.
A file was then passed to the Crown Prosecution Service to decide whether any charges should be brought against either Mr Downes or Ms Downes under section 2(1) of the Suicide Act 1961.
It was decided there is no evidence to support a charge against Ms Downes and that, although there is enough evidence to charge Mr Downes with an offence under section 2(1) of the Suicide Act 1961, a prosecution is not in the public interest.
Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer said: "With regard to factors tending in favour of prosecution, it is clear that both Sir Edward and Lady Downes were able to undertake the acts that Mr Downes undertook on their behalf.
"However, with regard to factors tending against prosecution, it is also clear that Sir Edward and Lady Downes had each reached a voluntary, clear, settled and informed decision to commit suicide."
He continued: "In the context of those decisions and the steps taken by Sir Edward and Lady Downes to give effect to their decisions, the actions of Mr Downes, although sufficient to come within the definition of the offence, were very much only of minor assistance."
The police have confirmed that Mr Downes reported his parents' suicide to them through his solicitor and that he fully assisted them in their enquiries into the circumstances of his parents' suicide and his part in providing assistance.
(PR/BMcC)
The Director of Public Prosecutions said today that Sir Edward, a renowned conductor, and his wife Joan flew to the Dignitas Clinic on 10 July 2009 to end their lives together.
Lady Downes, 74, was suffering from a terminal illness.
Police investigated the role of the Downes's children Caractacus and Boudicca.
A file was then passed to the Crown Prosecution Service to decide whether any charges should be brought against either Mr Downes or Ms Downes under section 2(1) of the Suicide Act 1961.
It was decided there is no evidence to support a charge against Ms Downes and that, although there is enough evidence to charge Mr Downes with an offence under section 2(1) of the Suicide Act 1961, a prosecution is not in the public interest.
Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer said: "With regard to factors tending in favour of prosecution, it is clear that both Sir Edward and Lady Downes were able to undertake the acts that Mr Downes undertook on their behalf.
"However, with regard to factors tending against prosecution, it is also clear that Sir Edward and Lady Downes had each reached a voluntary, clear, settled and informed decision to commit suicide."
He continued: "In the context of those decisions and the steps taken by Sir Edward and Lady Downes to give effect to their decisions, the actions of Mr Downes, although sufficient to come within the definition of the offence, were very much only of minor assistance."
The police have confirmed that Mr Downes reported his parents' suicide to them through his solicitor and that he fully assisted them in their enquiries into the circumstances of his parents' suicide and his part in providing assistance.
(PR/BMcC)
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