Hong Kong-UK spying row: Matthew Trickett’s death not suspicious, police say
- The conclusion was reached after a UK Home Office postmortem and further investigation by detectives
- Charges against Trickett have been discontinued, while co-defendants Peter Wai and Bill Yuen will face trial in February
The death of an ex-UK Royal Marine accused of spying for Hong Kong is not being treated as suspicious, police said on Friday.
Matthew Trickett, 37, an immigration enforcement officer and private investigator, was found dead in a park in Maidenhead, west of London, on Sunday.
A Home Office postmortem was completed on Wednesday, Thames Valley Police said in a statement. “As a result of this and further inquiries conducted by detectives, we can confirm the death is not being treated as suspicious.”
“Mr Trickett’s family are being supported by specialist officers, our thoughts remain with them, and we would kindly ask that their privacy is respected at this difficult time.” the statement added.
At a hearing at London’s Old Bailey court, prosecutor Alistair Richardson said the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) notified the court that the case against Trickett would be formally “discontinued”.
“As has widely been reported, Matthew Trickett died on May 19 this year. The cause of his death is currently given as unexplained,” Richardson said.
His co-defendants in the case, Peter Wai Chi-leung, 38, and Bill Yuen Chung-biu, 63, appeared at the hearing but spoke only to confirm their names.
