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Germany 'suicide' student may have been chased and beaten, inquest told Germany 'suicide' student may have been chased and beaten, inquest told
(about 2 hours later)
A British student who was thought to have killed himself in Germany may have been chased and beaten to death in a quarry before his killers staged his suicide on a nearby motorway, an inquest has heard.A British student who was thought to have killed himself in Germany may have been chased and beaten to death in a quarry before his killers staged his suicide on a nearby motorway, an inquest has heard.
Jeremiah Duggan, 22, was found dead on a road near Wiesbaden on 27 March 2003 after he attended a youth event organised by the far-right movement LaRouche.Jeremiah Duggan, 22, was found dead on a road near Wiesbaden on 27 March 2003 after he attended a youth event organised by the far-right movement LaRouche.
German police initially said his death was “a suicide by means of a traffic accident”. However, the student’s family, from north London, have never accepted that.German police initially said his death was “a suicide by means of a traffic accident”. However, the student’s family, from north London, have never accepted that.
On Wednesday Alan Bayle, a forensic scientist, told an inquest in London that there was no evidence to support the claim that Duggan killed himself.On Wednesday Alan Bayle, a forensic scientist, told an inquest in London that there was no evidence to support the claim that Duggan killed himself.
“I firmly believe this incident was staged and that Mr Duggan met his death somewhere else and his body [was] dumped on the road,” Bayle said.“I firmly believe this incident was staged and that Mr Duggan met his death somewhere else and his body [was] dumped on the road,” Bayle said.
There were no traces of blood or skin on the two cars that are supposed to have hit Duggan, he said. “It did not take me very long to see this was a crime scene and not a traffic accident.”There were no traces of blood or skin on the two cars that are supposed to have hit Duggan, he said. “It did not take me very long to see this was a crime scene and not a traffic accident.”
Bayle, who based his conclusions on photographs of the incident, said there was sand on both cars and on Duggan’s shoes, suggesting they had been at a nearby quarry or building site. He said Duggan might have been chased and then beaten to death at the quarry before his body was moved to the motorway.Bayle, who based his conclusions on photographs of the incident, said there was sand on both cars and on Duggan’s shoes, suggesting they had been at a nearby quarry or building site. He said Duggan might have been chased and then beaten to death at the quarry before his body was moved to the motorway.
“In my opinion Mr Duggan has either gone through a quarry or building site. They are actually racing these cars around trying to follow him. The cars go over posts and bumps, that is where they get the damage.”“In my opinion Mr Duggan has either gone through a quarry or building site. They are actually racing these cars around trying to follow him. The cars go over posts and bumps, that is where they get the damage.”
Duggan, who was Jewish, was studying English literature at the Sorbonne in Paris and travelled to Wiesbaden for what he thought was an anti-war conference after becoming concerned about the escalating conflict in Iraq.Duggan, who was Jewish, was studying English literature at the Sorbonne in Paris and travelled to Wiesbaden for what he thought was an anti-war conference after becoming concerned about the escalating conflict in Iraq.
He went with a group of young men selling the newspaper Nouvelle Solidarite, a French version of a newspaper published by Lyndon LaRouche, an American rightwing extremist condemned by leading Jewish organisations as an antisemite.He went with a group of young men selling the newspaper Nouvelle Solidarite, a French version of a newspaper published by Lyndon LaRouche, an American rightwing extremist condemned by leading Jewish organisations as an antisemite.
The Schiller Institute in Wiesbaden, where the conference was held from 21 to 23 March, was run by LaRouche’s German wife, Helga.The Schiller Institute in Wiesbaden, where the conference was held from 21 to 23 March, was run by LaRouche’s German wife, Helga.
Attendees faced a gruelling schedule of meetings, lectures, one-to-one sessions, chanting sessions and seminars, the inquest heard.Attendees faced a gruelling schedule of meetings, lectures, one-to-one sessions, chanting sessions and seminars, the inquest heard.
Alexis Weisberger, who was at the event carrying out “sociological research” into the group, said Duggan had many questions about the group’s ideology and beliefs to begin with, but this changed as the conference went on.Alexis Weisberger, who was at the event carrying out “sociological research” into the group, said Duggan had many questions about the group’s ideology and beliefs to begin with, but this changed as the conference went on.
“He was critical in the beginning but at the end of five days all that was lost. Eating, sleeping and singing together you end up being exhausted with no power to think for yourself.”“He was critical in the beginning but at the end of five days all that was lost. Eating, sleeping and singing together you end up being exhausted with no power to think for yourself.”
He said in the end Duggan was “exhausted and just focusing on doing what they wanted him to do”.He said in the end Duggan was “exhausted and just focusing on doing what they wanted him to do”.
The court heard that Duggan was under pressure not to leave the event. At around 4am on the morning of his death Duggan phoned his girlfriend Maya Villanveva and told her there were “very very serious things going on”. The court heard that Duggan was under pressure not to leave the event. At around 4am on the morning of his death Duggan phoned his girlfriend Maya Villanveva and told her there were “very, very serious things going on”.
He complained that he had pain in his legs and a dry mouth, and said the government was involved in using “computers and magnetic things”. Later that day his body was discovered on the motorway.He complained that he had pain in his legs and a dry mouth, and said the government was involved in using “computers and magnetic things”. Later that day his body was discovered on the motorway.
The inquest heard written statements from witnesses who said they saw Duggan try to jump out in front of several cars on the morning of his death.The inquest heard written statements from witnesses who said they saw Duggan try to jump out in front of several cars on the morning of his death.
The drivers of the Peugeot 406 and the Volkswagen Golf that German investigators said were involved in the death said Duggan had been at the side of the road before he threw himself in front of the Peugeot and was then run over by the Golf travelling behind. The drivers said they believed he had intended to kill himself.The drivers of the Peugeot 406 and the Volkswagen Golf that German investigators said were involved in the death said Duggan had been at the side of the road before he threw himself in front of the Peugeot and was then run over by the Golf travelling behind. The drivers said they believed he had intended to kill himself.
But Dayle told the inquest the evidence strongly suggested the collision on the motorway had been staged.But Dayle told the inquest the evidence strongly suggested the collision on the motorway had been staged.
The north London coroner Andrew Walker asked whether it was plausible that the scene had been faked on a busy motorway at 6am without any witnesses. He said it would have required a widespread conspiracy involving “a large number of people”.The north London coroner Andrew Walker asked whether it was plausible that the scene had been faked on a busy motorway at 6am without any witnesses. He said it would have required a widespread conspiracy involving “a large number of people”.
The inquest continues.The inquest continues.