Not for commercial use. Solely to be used for the educational purposes of research and open discussion.
The Mirror
February 13, 2002, Wednesday
NEWS; Pg. 4
RIDDLE OF DEAD DOC
Aidan Mcgurran
THE half-naked body of a leading university scientist has been found at his home. Police discovered Dr Ian Langford's body under a chair.
His terraced house had been ransacked.
A colleague of 40-year-old Dr Langford, at the University of East Anglia, Norwich, said: "He was a brilliant academic."
Norfolk police said: "The death is being treated as suspicious."
Not for commercial use. Solely to be used for the educational purposes of research and open discussion.
Guardian Home Pages, Pg. 8The Guardian (London)
February 13, 2002
In brief: Inquiry into scientist's death
Police are investigating the death of research scientist Ian Langford, 40, a senior fellow at East Anglia University, who was found naked from the waist down and wedged under a chair at his blood-spattered home.
Not for commercial use. Solely to be used for the educational purposes of research and open discussion.
Press Association
February 13, 2002, WednesdayPOLICE RULE OUT FOUL PLAY OVER SCIENTIST'S DEATH
Brian Farmer PA News
Detectives today said that they had ruled out the possibility that a scientist whose body was found at his home died as a result of foul play.
Ian Langford, 40, a senior researcher in the field of environmental risk at the University of East Anglia, Norwich, was found dead at his home in Norwich late on Monday.
A spokeswoman for Norfolk police today said that following post mortem tests police had decided that Dr Langford's death was not suspicious. It is understood that Dr Langford had wounds on his body.
Officers are now believed to be working on the theory that the injuries were either self-inflicted or sustained accidentally.
The spokeswoman said a report would be prepared for the coroner.
The university paid tribute to Dr Langford, who was said to be outstanding in his field.
Professor Kerry Turner, director of the University's Centre for Social and Economic Research in the Global Environment, said: "We are all very shocked by this appalling news.
"Ian was without doubt, one of Europe's leading experts on environmental risk, specialising in links between human health and environmental risk.
"He was one of the most brilliant colleagues I have ever had, both as an individual researcher and as a team player.
"He will be greatly missed at UEA."
Dr Langford, who was based in Professor Turner's department, is understood to have worked at the university for about eight years.
His death is the latest in a series of tragedies to have hit the university in the past two years.
Critically acclaimed author Professor W G Sebald died in a road accident in December, literary critic and English professor Lorna Sage died in January last year after a long illness, and in November 2000 novelist and American Studies Professor Sir Malcolm Bradbury died at the age of 68, also after a long illness.
Detectives today said that they had ruled out the possibility that a scientist whose body was found at his home died as a result of foul play.
OK, my BS meter is definately registering something. How does a guy accidently wound himself seriously enough to splatter blood everywhere, then wedge his dying half-naked body under a chair? I'm usually not one for conspiracy theories, but when local cops start stretching to avoid the presumption of homicide in so many cases with a strong common thread, something either very sinister is going on, or something very sinister has been thwarted.
"British Official Secrets Act" in full operation?
IMHO, guess?
If I'm ever found dead, half-naked, under a chair, with wounds on my body --I can guarantee it isn't natural.