By IB Times Staff Reporter: Subscribe to IB's RSS feed
July 19, 2011 4:43 AM EDT
In a significant turnaround in the phone hacking saga, Sean Hoare - who first blew the whistle that the now defunct News of the World editor, Andy Coulson, "encouraged" phone hacking -- was found dead.
The 47-year-old former reporter's body was found early Monday at his home in Watford, north of London.
The death comes as Rupert Murdoch and son James are expected face a grilling from lawmakers Tuesday over the phone hacking scandal. Meanwhile, Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) would also look in to the matter.
Commissioner Deborah Glass said she has received a number of referrals from the Metropolitan Police Authority, including over the conduct of the Met Commissioner in carrying overall responsibility for the investigation into phone hacking.
Meanwhile, the death of Hoare is significant in that he is seen as a key figure in the recent phone hacking scandal and was expected by many to shed light on the extent and depth of the allegations.
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According to the police, the death is "unexplained, but not thought to be suspicious".
The ex-journalist was paranoid, worried about being watched and feared that someone would come to get him, UK's Mirror reported citing a neighbor.
The sudden and mysterious death of Hoare turned out as a grim coincidence at a time when the phone hacking scandal is escalating every day.
Hoare's death may complicate the phone hacking scandal further as he was the key witness in the case, whose high profile victims included Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson, assistant commissioner John Yates and Rebekah Brooks, a former editor of the tabloid and the CEO of News International.
The police stated that the death is "not suspicious", but it would not stop conspiracy theorists flooding the web with claims that he had become the latest victim of the 'dark arts'.
Journalist Simon Ricketts tweeted the following: "Sean had his problems, without doubt, but I truly believe he was a victim of that culture."
Ricketts said, "I shall raise a glass or 12 tonight to him."
Paul @TheSwamps tweeted: "Does anyone think Sean Hoare's death was innocent? Dr Kelly anyone? Funny how people die just after they lift the lid on people's wrong doing"
Journalist Ana Lopez tweeted: "I don't get how death of Sean Hoare is not being treated as suspicious by police."
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