Suicide bid by euthanasia campaigner
FORMER Hucknall man Bill Starr has failed in a shock bid to take his own life – as a crowning gesture in his campaign for voluntary euthanasia.
Bill (77), pictured, tried to commit suicide by means of tablets at his home on Maltby Close, Aspley – to coincide with the first anniversary of the death of his wife, Maureen.
"But I could not keep the tablets down," said Bill, who added that this was probably due to the effects of a hunger strike he began earlier this year.
Police arrived at his home before he could take his suicide attempt any further.
The former Newstead Colliery miner was born in Bulwell and used to live on Curtis Street, Hucknall. He has now been admitted to the Daybrook Ward of St Francis's Hospital in Nottingham.
With typical gallows-humour, he said: "I have ended up being sectioned and I don't agree with it!"
A fervent spiritualist, Bill firmly believes that death is not the end and he looks forward to being re-united with his wife.
Maureen (64), who suffered from Alzheimer's disease, was a resident of Lowmoor Home at Kirkby-in-Ashfield.
Bill hit the headlines in January 2007 when we exclusively reported that he went to the home with the aim of killing Maureen to end her suffering.
Even so, he was not allowed thereafter to visit his wife without supervision by a staff member.
Bill's long-standing attempts to get the law changed to allow voluntary euthanasia have been combined with complaints about care of the elderly mentally ill.
His protests have been targeted against Nottingham City Council and Notts County Council.
As part of his campaign, he symbolically burnt his council-tax bill outside the Dispatch Office at the beginning of this year.
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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