Test results awaited to find out how Taser firm boss died

An inquest opening yesterday into the death of Peter Boatman, 57, director of operations for Pro-Tect Systems, heard that post-mortem examinations are awaiting toxicology and histology tests.

At the opening in Northampton General Hospital’s boardroom, Northamptonshire coroner Anne Pember said Mr Boatman, who was found dead at his home in the town on Friday, had been identified by a friend.

No members of Mr Boatman’s family were present and during the short hearing the coroner adjourned the inquest to a date to be fixed.

Mr Boatman was found dead at his home in Reynard Way, Kingsthorpe, Northampton, on Friday, just three days after the Home Office revoked Pro-Tect Systems’ licence to import and sell Tasers.

The move came after it emerged that the firm breached the terms of its licence by supplying X12 Tasers, which were still being tested by Government scientists, directly to police involved in the Moat manhunt.

On Friday, Mr Boatman’s business partner said the former police officer was “destroyed” by the furore.

Pro-Tect’s managing director Kevin Coles said there was “no doubt” his colleague’s apparent suicide was linked to the week’s events.

He said: “He was a proud man and he felt ashamed at recent developments.

“He spent all his life involved in officer safety and what happened was a result of him being worried about the welfare of officers”.

Home Secretary Theresa May revoked the firm’s licence to import and sell Tasers following an investigation into the use of the weapons at the end of one of Britain’s biggest manhunts.