Mon, 16 Jul 2012
No5 Chambers' mental health barrister Laura Davidson is representing the family of a talented engineer with severe depression who took his own life on the day of his eviction for non-payment of legal costs, despite having paid his council tax arrears. Laura agreed to take on the case pro bono and the inquest has been adjourned after she argued that the case raised questions relating to the right to life under Article 2 of the ECHR and that witnesses from the local council should attend to be cross-examined.
Peter Williams of Langford, Bedford, stood in front of a train in February on the day he was due to lose his home. The council refused to drop the case despite being informed by Mr Williams’ MP, his GP and his friends that he suffered from mental illness. He emailed his friend to say he could not face losing his home, stating: “I have had enough and cannot stand any more of the mental turmoil.” His death occurred only months before his Vortex device was in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s most energy efficient hand dryer.
