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Bosnian veteran killed himself
March 24, 2004 12:17
A SOLDIER who served in Bosnia took his own life after he had an argument with his wife on their anniversary, an inquest was told.
Robert Baldwin, 28, had been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder since leaving the Army five years ago.
The sales assistant had been in the armed forces for about nine years when he left.
Allen Trivett, Mr Baldwin's stepbrother, said: "At first he seemed all right. Then he kept getting depressed — fireworks always brought everything back to him."
Mr Baldwin, who was prescribed medication to deal with his depression, was pronounced dead at his home in Dereham Road, Norwich, on December 19.
A post mortem carried out by Dr Lazlo Igali revealed Mr Baldwin, who had also attended a clinic for people who suffer from combat stress, died from fatal Amitriptyline and Citalopram poisoning.
He married Kelly after leaving the army and had been with her for about four years when they split up last October. The couple had two children.
Following the split, he got a place with his stepbrother on Dereham Road, Norwich.
He met up with his wife on December 18 last year — the night of their anniversary.
"It was his anniversary and they were supposed to go home for a meal. They had an argument and he came home slamming doors," said Mr Trivett.
"I didn't see him in the morning, but didn't think anything of it. I assumed he had a late start for work."
Mr Trivett said he returned home from work at about 6pm that day and started watching TV.
A while later he saw Mr Baldwin's bag in the house and thought he had come home from work early. He went upstairs and saw his stepbrother lying on his bed and thought he had been off work because he was unwell.
"At about 8pm I thought I would make myself some tea and see if he wanted any. Then I found him. I found him lying in bed completely lifeless," said Mr Trivett.
"There was empty pill packets. There was a note, but I didn't find it," he said.
Norwich coroner William Armstrong said Mr Baldwin had taken a substantial overdose of his medication after the meeting with his wife had ended in disaster.
He said: "He did take a substantial overdose. He was an intelligent man who must have known what he was doing.
"I'm bound to conclude that he did intend to take his own life. It's clear from reading the note that he had made a decision to take his own life."
He added: "It may well be the case that the post-traumatic stress disorder from which he was suffering as a result of his experience as a soldier in Bosnia had a major effect on his life and his ability to cope."
Mr Armstrong said that the tragedy highlighted the potentially devastating psychological effects serving in military conflict could have.
He said: "I shall record a verdict of suicide and extend my deepest sympathies to the family."
Speaking after the inquest, Michael Baldwin, Robert's father, said: "His illness made everything seem worse than it was.
"Last September Robert organised a five-a-side football tournament for Combat Stress at the Power League and we're going to do that again this September as a memorial to him." |
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