Matthew Puncher

A radiation expert who investigated the 'assassination' of Alexander Litvinenko was found dead five months after a trip to Russia, an inquest heard.

Matthew Puncher, 46, bled to death at his home from multiple stab wounds inflicted by two knives.

A pathologist said he could not ' exclude' the possibility that someone else was involved in the death - but concluded the injuries were self-inflicted.

It led a coroner to record that Dr Puncher - who discovered the amount of toxic polonium inside ex-KGB agent Litvinenko after he drank poisoned tea in London in 2006 - committed suicide.

The inquest also heard the father-of-three had 'become obsessed' with a coding error he made in his research which he feared could 'land him in prison' for breaking a contract with the US Government, while his wife said his mood had 'completely changed' following a trip to Russia.

Dr Puncher was found dead at his home in Drayton, Oxfordshire, in May with stab wounds to his arms, neck and upper abdomen. 

He was an expert in radiation protection dosimetry and worked for Public Health England at the UK's Atomic Energy Research Establishment at Harwell, Oxfordshire.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3968144/Radiation-expert-46-investigated-assassination-KGB-spy-Alexander-Litvinenko-killed-stabbing-arms-chest-repeatedly-five-months-trip-Russia.html