UK family offers reward on gold mine manager death: $25 000
Published: 2013 November 14 11:39:21 (5408 Views)
The family of a gold mine manager from Surrey has offered a $25,000 (£15,000) reward for information after he was found dead in Zimbabwe.
Robert Wood, 54, from Windlesham, was found hanged in Bulawayo in March 2012. A pathologist in Zimbabwe concluded that Mr Wood had taken his own life.
An inquest at Woking Coroner's Court on Monday recorded an open verdict. The coroner said there was insufficient evidence to determine how Mr Wood had died.
Surrey Police said the Zimbabwean authorities had conducted an investigation into Mr Wood's death before referring the case to the Surrey Coroner's Office.
In a statement, the force said: "Officers from the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team have reviewed the circumstances of the death but have found no evidence to indicate any third party involvement.
"As such, no formal investigation has been conducted by Surrey Police." Robert's brother Ian Wood, who lives in Dover, Kent, said his brother had been running a gold mine in Zimbabwe when he died, having lived in Africa for much of his life. 'Mine grab' At the inquest, he said he had uncovered evidence that his brother's will had been forged to try and cash in on his assets.
"It's very important to find out what happened at the end of the day because we don't believe Robert committed suicide - we believe it was murder," he said. He said the family wanted to try and get the Zimbabwean authorities to "actually do something about it".
Mr Wood said he thought his brother's death was part of a "mine grab". "It's just greed," he said. He said his brother was a "very positive man, very happy" who "loved life to the full" Mr Wood said the family hoped the reward would "spur someone on" to talk about his brother's death.
Coroner Richard Travers said: "Some of what I've heard does seem very odd and indeed very suspicious", adding that much of what had been said was "mere speculation".
"There is insufficient evidence for me to determine properly how Rab came by his death," he said.
- BBC
Robert Wood, 54, from Windlesham, was found hanged in Bulawayo in March 2012. A pathologist in Zimbabwe concluded that Mr Wood had taken his own life.
An inquest at Woking Coroner's Court on Monday recorded an open verdict. The coroner said there was insufficient evidence to determine how Mr Wood had died.
Surrey Police said the Zimbabwean authorities had conducted an investigation into Mr Wood's death before referring the case to the Surrey Coroner's Office.
In a statement, the force said: "Officers from the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team have reviewed the circumstances of the death but have found no evidence to indicate any third party involvement.
"As such, no formal investigation has been conducted by Surrey Police." Robert's brother Ian Wood, who lives in Dover, Kent, said his brother had been running a gold mine in Zimbabwe when he died, having lived in Africa for much of his life. 'Mine grab' At the inquest, he said he had uncovered evidence that his brother's will had been forged to try and cash in on his assets.
"It's very important to find out what happened at the end of the day because we don't believe Robert committed suicide - we believe it was murder," he said. He said the family wanted to try and get the Zimbabwean authorities to "actually do something about it".
Mr Wood said he thought his brother's death was part of a "mine grab". "It's just greed," he said. He said his brother was a "very positive man, very happy" who "loved life to the full" Mr Wood said the family hoped the reward would "spur someone on" to talk about his brother's death.
Coroner Richard Travers said: "Some of what I've heard does seem very odd and indeed very suspicious", adding that much of what had been said was "mere speculation".
"There is insufficient evidence for me to determine properly how Rab came by his death," he said.
- BBC
0
You May Like These Videos
WATCH: Victims Narrate Ordeal After Being Clobbered By Riot Cops
FLASHBACK: Morgan Tsvangirai Won't Resign Despite Illness 
Police Violently Beat Harare Protesters 
Zimbabwean Man Who Was Shot By Tswana Employer Appeals For HelpComments
There are no comments.
Get Zim Metro Updates Alerts
Big Reads
Schoolgirl drops out after continuous 'sexual abuse' by teacher
by Staff Reporter | 2019 August 13 07:42:33
Mugabe Knows Nothing About The Zimbabwe Constitution: MP
by Staff Reporter | 2016 October 01 08:12:02
Zim's Protesting Graduates Risk Losing Degrees For Expressing Anger Against Mugabe
by Staff Reporter | 2016 October 01 07:57:08
Troubled Harare Giants Dynamos Falls Into Another Deep Crisis
by Own Correspondent | 2016 October 01 07:49:17
Grace Mugabe Grovels At Mnangagwa, Says I Did Not Ask Ubaba To Fire You
by Staff Reporter | 2016 October 01 07:31:48
Mugabe Attacks Mawarire, Claims The Exiled Pastor Failed To Divide Zimbabwe
by Staff Reporter | 2016 October 01 07:19:13
Shock As Local Bank Denies 'Rich' Mugabe's Son Heifty Credit
by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 30 19:14:54Trouble For Police Officers Who Have Been Mercilessly Bludgeoning Protesters
by Staff Reporter | 2016 October 01 07:20:19
Mugabe "Home Coming" And "Thank You" Rally On Cards
by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 23 06:48:24
Prof Moyo Was Dumped By Western Embassies, Claims Mutsvangwa
by Staff Reporter | 2016 September 22 10:08:07Broke RBZ Tracks Down Zimbabweans Living Outside The Country Over Taxi
by Staff Reporter | 2016 September 22 09:16:20
You Are Too Old To Lead, Aging Zim President Mugabe Told
by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 22 07:19:25
Anti-Corruption Commission Loses Property In Failed Probe
by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 20 03:18:19
.jpg)
SHOCKING:14 Year Old HIV-Positive Boy Rapes 7 Pupils
by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 20 00:04:55
