AN introvert lived with the body of his dead brother for 11 days at their Ackworth home.
Leslie Smith, 56, was found hanged in his bedroom by his brother Norman Smith on February 14 at their home on Cricketer’s Close but an inquest heard his death was not reported until February 25.
The court heard Norman panicked when he discovered t
he body and because of his social isolation did not know what to do.
The brothers’ sister, Barbara Bailey, said Norman was “socially inadequate and introverted” and went to live with Leslie on a permanent basis.
Leslie was a former forklift truck driver but had been out of work since 1999 despite applying for jobs.
The inquest heard he had never claimed any benefits and had spent all of his savings.
On February 14 he returned home from his usual shopping trip to find he had been unsuccessful in a job application for a waste displosal company in South Kirkby.
He told his brother he was going to bed but he was later found hanged from his bedroom door.
The inquest heard the police interviewed Norman but found no suspicious circumstances.
Coroner David Hinchliff said it appeared the unsuccessful job application must have been the “last straw” for Leslie.
He said: “As far as Norman’s involvement I don’t believe for a moment that he had any ulterior motive in not informing anyone. It would have been a shock to him.
“It would have been disturbing for any of us but because of his lack of social skills and his isolation he didn’t know what to do.
“Unfortunately his reaction was to do nothing. It must have been a dreadful thing for him to have to live in that house for those few days with his brother there.”
Mr Hinchliff recorded a verdict of suicide.
The full article contains 316 words and appears in Ponte and Cas Express newspaper.
