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Tuesday, September 7, 1999 Published at 18:11 GMT 19:11 UK


UK: Wales

Warning after Internet overdose suicide

Nicotine information from the Internet was used in the suicide

A coroner voiced fears after hearing how a computer programmer committed suicide using a recipe for neat nicotine from the Internet.


BBC Wales's Steve Jones reports on the inquest hearing
David Jones, 32, was found dead at his home in Churchstoke, Powys, in May.

In a note left on his computer, he said he was worried about his eyesight and had taken what he had thought would be a fatal nicotine overdose.


[ image: The coroner was surprised the recipe was on the Net]
The coroner was surprised the recipe was on the Net
Initial tests proved inconclusive but a jar of a black sticky substance was found in his kitchen, and analysis showed it to be almost neat nicotine.

Subsequent tests on Mr Jones proved that he died of nicotine poisoning.

Powys coroner John Hollis recorded a verdict of suicide and said he was surprised a recipe for poisoning could be obtained so easily.

He said he was concerned about potential copycat incidents.

Mr Jones believed he had failing eyesight after looking at a partial eclipse a few years ago despite being given the all-clear after a medical check-up.

Police at Newtown said it was the first case of its kind they had dealt with, and highlighted the danger of misusing information off the Internet.

Chief Inspector Derek Richards said: "This is a classic example where people have this information freely available on the Internet and they misuse it for whatever reasons they might have."





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