John Barnett had worked for Boeing for 32 years, until his retirement in 2017.

In the days before his death, he had been giving evidence in a whistleblower lawsuit against the company.

Boeing said it was saddened to hear of Mr Barnett’s passing. The Charleston County coroner confirmed his death to the BBC on Monday.

It said the 62-year-old had died from a “self-inflicted” wound on 9 March and police were investigating.

  • rottingleaf
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    9
    arrow-down
    2
    ·
    8 months ago

    There should be presumption of guilt in this case.

      • rottingleaf
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        5
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        8 months ago

        Then they’d be interested to hire him all kinds of councilors and security guards so that he doesn’t kill himself.

          • rottingleaf
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            2
            arrow-down
            1
            ·
            8 months ago

            That’ll cost them less money and years of not seeing daylight, so why not.

            • aidan@lemmy.world
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              1
              arrow-down
              1
              ·
              8 months ago

              Because don’t you think that in itself is a form of witness intimidation? Won’t people be hesitant to volunteer to testify during a lengthy trial if it means a security guard literally watching them sleep and shower for months.

              • rottingleaf
                link
                fedilink
                arrow-up
                1
                ·
                8 months ago

                I meant not that the witness would be obligated to accept that, but that a company would be interested to offer to pay for various measures to preserve their health, sanity and all that.

                • aidan@lemmy.world
                  link
                  fedilink
                  arrow-up
                  1
                  arrow-down
                  1
                  ·
                  8 months ago

                  But the claim was that he committed suicide, say you’re concerned about the company killing you so you accept their security. Couldn’t the security then just have a good reason to be in your house to “find the body” when you “slip in the shower”

                  • rottingleaf
                    link
                    fedilink
                    arrow-up
                    2
                    ·
                    8 months ago

                    You don’t get it, his death before giving witness is unconditionally considered a murder by the company.