Winterbourne man found dead with gun wound

AN elderly man was found dead with a gun at his feet, a coroner has heard.

David Allen had been mourning the loss of his wife just weeks previously, the hearing in Reading Town Hall was told on Tuesday, July 5.

Opening the inquest into his death, assistant Berkshire coroner Alison McCormick said the 89-year-old's body had been discovered by a carer at his home in Winterbourne near Newbury on the morning of Monday, April 25.

Ms McCormick said Mr Allen had a gun at his feet near an empty cartridge when he was found.

She said Mr Allen's wife had died just one month previously.

Ms McCormick said: "He passed away at his home address and his identity was confirmed by his carer.

"The circumstances surrounding this death were that at around 9.09am on April 25, the carer of David made a call to the ambulance service.

"They had found David in the lounge, sitting in his chair, slumped down.

"The carer saw a gun his feet and a cartridge on the floor nearby.

"There was also a note on the table.

"Emergency services arrived but there were no life-saving opportunities."

The coroner continued: "In terms of recent history, he had lost his wife a month prior to his own death.

"A post-mortem examination was held, which gave the cause of death as a gunshot wound to the head."

The inquest was adjourned by the coroner and scheduled to resume on August 3.

A tribute published online read: "David Geoffrey Allen passed away suddenly at home on April 25, 2022 aged 89 years.

"Devoted husband of the late Thelma, loving father to Bridget, Paula and the late Claire.

"Son in law to Dave and Andrew, grampy to Tom, James, Mikey and Alice.

"He will be sadly missed by all his family and friends."