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Barrister chose death by shotgun hours before detectives' quiz
A BARRISTER shot himself dead hours before he was due to be quizzed by detectives over "serious" allegations.
John Stiles, 53, was already facing eight counts of perverting the course of justice when he killed himself at his home in Ulceby Road, Wootton, North Lincolnshire, on May 19.
Police have not revealed the nature of the other allegations, but Det Con Wally Youngman, of Humberside Police's major incident team, said: "We were due to see him that day and he was due to surrender to the police to be interviewed about further matters."
He added: "My sympathies are with his family, who may or may not have known the full extent of what he is alleged to have done.We investigate serious and complex cases and this was complex and serious."
The case was formally closed at Hull Crown Court, where Mr Stiles was due to face trial on August 10.
Prosecutor Michael Cranmer-Brown said: "Mr Stiles has regrettably taken his own life on May 19 by way of a shotgun injury." It was alleged Mr Stiles gave false details to police on eight occasions when caught speeding in Hull and on the M180.
Mr Stiles, who worked in Hull and Leeds as a commercial law barrister, allegedly claimed other people were driving his vehicle, giving addresses for them in Spain and Mexico.
The offences are said to have happened between September 2003 and April 2007. Judge Michael Mettyear said: "The sympathy of the court goes out to the family of Mr Stiles.
"Nothing has been proved against him and no assumptions should be made.
"It highlights the seriousness of attempting to evade penalty points on licences by giving false information to the authorities."
He added: "I emphasise nothing has been proved against Mr Stiles, but the fact is he was charged with this conduct and knew that if convicted serious consequences might follow and this will have blighted him for the last months of his life."
Mr Stiles was called to the Bar in July 1986 and practised from September 1988 until July last year. His funeral was held at Hull crematorium yesterday.
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Weather for Yorkshire
Wednesday 08 February 2012
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