Police drop assisted suicide probe into death of 94-year-old man

AN assisted suicide probe launched by police following the discovery of a 94-year-old Lymington man’s body has been dropped.

Two people were arrested – a 90-year-old woman from the town and a 69-year-old man from Somerset – after Ralph Saxon Snell’s death on 28th January at a house in Courtenay Place.

Neither of the suspects were identified by Hampshire police.

On Tuesday, a spokesperson for the constabulary told the A&T enquiries carried out following a post-mortem examination found the cause of death to be mixed drug intoxication.

“A 90-year-old woman from Lymington and a 69-year-old man from Somerset had been arrested on suspicion of intentionally doing an act capable of encouraging/assisting the suicide of another,” the spokesman continued.

“Following a thorough investigation, and advice from the Crown Prosecution Service, both the woman and the man have been released with no further action.”

Mr Snell’s inquest has been opened and adjourned and a full hearing has been listed for Winchester Coroner’s Court on 9th August.