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Authorities to begin Speed inquest

Comment: 0 November 29th, 2011 by: admin

THE Chelsea police have announced that they will be launching a formal investigation on the shocking death of Wales football manager Gary Speed.

Set to begin by Tuesday, the inquest will be considered a formality (as it is in cases that involve suspected suicide) and will be set at Warrington Coroner’s Court at 3 PM GMT.

Although the death of the football player and manager remains unexpected and shocking, authorities have assured that based on their current findings there were ‘no suspicious circumstances’ surrounding the tragedy.

Speed left behind a wife and two teenage sons, all of whom publicly acknowledged the outpouring of well-wishers and condolences from his friends and former team-mates.

Hayden Evans, Speed’s agent and best man at his wedding, addressed the press to express the sentiments of the family.

‘Gary’s family would sincerely like to thank all the people that have sent messages of condolence and tributes in what is a very difficult time,’ said Evans.

‘We have been overwhelmed by the support and it has really helped.

‘We would ask that the family are now given the respect of some privacy to just grieve on their own.’

When speaking with the BBC, Evans recalled communicating with Gary the day before he was found hanging in his home.

‘We spoke on Friday, everything was normal,’ Evans recalled.  ‘We speak regularly and meet regularly and there were no tell-tale signs and that’s what’s made it all the more shocking.’

The news of Speed’s untimely death rocked the football world as those most familiar with him openly expressed their grief and sadness.

Prime Minister David Cameron also added his thoughts.

‘I think it has been incredibly moving,’ mused the PM.  ‘I was watching Match of the Day last night and watching people, crowds, absolutely silent and footballers revering his memory.

‘Obviously here in the north, where he played for so many of the iconic teams, I know he meant an enormous amount to people and people feel very, very sad on his behalf and on his family’s behalf.’

Football icon David Beckham also paid his respects during a press conference in Jakarta, Indonesia.

‘On behalf of myself, the players, the manager and everybody at the LA Galaxy, we would like to send our love and thoughts to his wife, his children and family because it’s a sad time.’

Football Association of Wales chief executive Jonathan Ford held a press conference where he was found fighting back tears.

‘It is surreal,’ he said.  ‘I am so emotionally cut up.  We can’t fathom it, we can’t understand it and I think we will be guessing for many years to come.

‘We are all devastated,’ he continued.  ‘At the FAW office, we huddled and cried together today.  All we’ve done is cried.  None of this makes sense.’

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