Former Bashley FC player Clive Makoni was found hanged ahead of court date, hears inquest

A FORMER Bashley footballer accused of rape hanged himself on the morning he was due in court, an inquest heard.

Clive Makoni (26), who had played for AFC Bournemouth’s academy team and Bashley FC, had been staying in an Airbnb property in Kings Somborne near Winchester after splitting with his girlfriend when he was found dead on 9th September last year.

Winchester Coroner’s Court heard how Mr Makoni was due to appear at Croydon Magistrates’ Court that morning for the first hearing relating to the allegation, which dated back to 2019.

However, a cleaner found him hanged in the living room.

Police attended the scene and found no suspicious circumstances. A post mortem confirmed Clive died from hanging. He had an alcohol level of just over twice the legal drink-drive limit.

The inquest heard Mr Makoni had spoken to a friend in the early hours of the morning and told them: “If I die today, my life has been great.”

Clive’s former girlfriend Bethany Young told the hearing she had spoken to him on the telephone on the morning he died and was due to meet him after the hearing to discuss arrangements for caring for their dog.

The couple, who had been together for four years, had met while they were at university. Miss Young told the inquest they had agreed to mutually split around two weeks before he was due to appear in court.

Mr Makoni, who had a degree in sports management and lived in Southampton, was also studying for a MBA.

Giving evidence, Miss Young said: “[The allegation] massively impacted on him. He went to counselling and took anti-anxiety medication. He struggled to sleep.”

However, when they last spoke he had not seemed suicidal, she said.

She added: “To know Clive was to love Clive. Everyone loved him, his presence – he had such an impact on people’s lives. He was the life of the party, someone to turn to for advice. He was one of the best people I knew.”

Coroner Jason Pegg recorded a conclusion of suicide and said: “Clive was clearly a talented sportsman but equally he had talents academically as well.

"The impact of the allegations made against him were such that he suffered from anxiety and struggled to sleep. It is quite clear from the evidence before me that he did intend to take his own life.”

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