Chatroom users who allegedly incited a Telford man to kill himself on the internet will not face criminal prosecution, it was revealed today.
Detectives and crown prosecutors were considering criminal charges over the apparent internet suicide on March 21 of father-of-two Kevin Whitrick, who lived in Wellington.
But today the Crown Prosecution Service said there was not enough evidence to take anyone to court.
Spokeswoman Carol Doherty said: “This is a tragic case which resulted in the untimely death of Kevin Whitrick.
“We examined all the evidence passed to us by the police and have concluded that none of the comments made in the chatroom amo-unted to a criminal offence.
“As a result there is insufficient evidence to prosecute any person for any criminal offence arising from Mr Whitrick’s death.”
Mr Whitrick, 42, was watched by about 100 people in an internet chatroom as he suggested he was going to harm himself. Just minutes later they watched in horror as he apparently hanged himself.
Detectives leading the investigation had been discussing the death with the CPS after claims that chatroom users who were talking to Mr Whitrick and watched his death allegedly incited him to hang himself.
Mr Whitrick had been suffering depression, which escalated after the death of his father Ron and a serious car accident in July 2006.
His brother, Malcolm, said today he had not expected there to be any charges and added: “I am just glad it’s in the process of being all over and we just now need to get the inquest and everything out of the way.”
He had paid tribute to “Kev” as a “devoted family man and loving father”.
Mr Whitrick, an associate director at Shrewsbury Town, had said his brother would always be remembered by his family for the good things and for the times he left others feeling happy with his bubbly temperament.
He had urged people to stop circulating internet images, which apparently showed his brother’s death.
Mr Whitrick had said he could not understand why people wanted to see the images.
Exclusive by Lisa Rowley
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