Son says dead man was terminally ill

AN elderly man who died from a gunshot wound at his home had been terminally ill and had not wanted his family to watch him suffer, it has been revealed.

The body of Brian Smith, 68, was discovered by police on Friday evening at his home in Thackeray Grove, Stowmarket.

Mr Smith had retired from his job a number of years ago and had moved to Spain with his wife for health reasons, where he was diagnosed with a terminal illness.

His son Jason said his father had been a loving and well-loved man who had wanted his family to avoid going through any pain.

"They moved back to Stowmarket so that they were closer to a support network and basically my father's condition was degenerative and was getting worse. It was starting to affect his mobility and his quality of life," he added.

"It would, if it continued, affect those around him and caused a considerable degree of distress and we believe that's why he chose to do what he did."

Jason Smith said he was concerned the public might have believed his father had kept armed police at bay at his home before his death.

"There was never any danger to anyone. There was no siege. My father had never killed a thing in his life," he added.

"He was a sportsman. He was an active man and a very intelligent man. He was quite brilliant.

"He was not waving guns around the street. He was not a lunatic. He was a loving and well-loved person, but he decided to save a lot of people a lot of trauma."

It is believed Mr Smith had called a friend prior to his death and shortly afterwards the police were contacted.

Officers cordoned off the cul-de-sac off Chilton Road as a precaution and police later entered the house, where Mr Smith's body was discovered.

A Suffolk police spokesman said it had appeared Mr Smith had died as a result of a gunshot wound and added his death was not being treated as suspicious.