Oxford don released over death of professor as family say 'it was terrible accident' - Telegraph

Quote:

Sivia, 50, was arrested on Wednesday night at his home in Southmoor, Oxford, after police discovered the body of 49-year-old Prof Rawlings, a married astrophysicist. Thames Valley Police said the post-mortem examination had proved inconclusive and Dr Sivia was being released on police bail until April 18. Detective Superintendent Rob Mason, from the force's major crime unit, said: "This is a tragic incident and our investigations are ongoing to establish the cause of death." He added: "I would emphasise that the police are investigating all potential circumstances that could have led to his death. Due to the post-mortem examination results proving inconclusive and further examinations being required, this has necessitated a lengthy bail date." Prof Rawling's family were struggling to come to terms with their loss today. But they said they did not believe that Prof Sivia could have murdered his friend and blamed his death on "a tragic accident". Linda Davey, 64, Prof Rawling's older sister, said he was not the type of man to get into an argument over anything. She said: "They have been friends for 30 years. We can't think that there was any kind of fight. We can only assume that it was a terrible accident. Steven was big, but he was gentle." Police believe that the pair, said by neighbours to be "the best of friends", had an argument after returning to Dr Sivia's house following a meal at local pub. Prof Rawlings and Dr Sivia, who lectures at Tony Blair's alma mater St John's College, had been friends for many years. They co-wrote a book called Foundations of Science Mathematics, which was published in 1999. On Thursday night a post-mortem examination was unable to establish a cause of death and further tests will be conducted. Dr Sivia is a stipendiary lecturer in Mathematics for Sciences at Oxford University. He lectures to undergraduates studying chemistry and physics and has published two books. An e-mail was sent to St John’s students warning there had been an incident. Prof Rawlings was based at St Peter's College, where the television chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and the film director Ken Loach studied. His website shows he was a keen amateur footballer and played cricket. He had a PhD from Cambridge and an MA DPhil from Oxford and listed among his interests modern art, music, travel and visiting his local pub, the Greyhound Inn near his home in Letcombe Regis, near Wantage. Duncan Logan, 52, who lives opposite Mr Sivia, said he had known both academics for several years and described them as "the best of friends". The builder said: "I can't believe what I'm hearing it's like a bolt from the blue. They were the best of friends. They were nice, gentle, well-spoken, polite and hard working people. "I am proud to have had both of them as friends. I never heard them row." He added: "Devinder didn't drink but they used to go to college dinners together. "Steve was very laid back. Nothing would faze him. "I was in the house when he was told to go abroad at very short notice and he hadn't organised anything. "His wife Linda was running around booking taxis and sorting out his things and he didn't seem to be bothered by it. Steve used to joke that Devinder used to pinch his cans of coke out the fridge." He continued: "They seemed to respect each other enormously, and talked very highly of each other. I got a text about it today and at first I thought it was Devinder who was dead. I can't imagine Devinder hurting anyone. I've never even heard him raise his voice. He such a gentle person. "I've no idea what might have happened. Devinder lived alone and I don't know if he had any relationships. I never saw him with anyone." Mr Logan said he had first met Mr Sivia after doing some work on his house and that the professor had recommended him to his friend. Kelly Ludlow, 30, who lives opposite the alleged crime scene, said: "There must have been four or five police cars outside the house at one stage. "I saw a man wearing a turban being led away from the property. He was cuffed and two policemen were with him. "It was very dark and I couldn't see him clearly enough, but he was dressed all in white." A small bunch of flowers was placed outside the house by a neighbour of Dr Sivia. Prof Rawlings's colleagues at St Peter's College paid tribute to the professor, who was married to Linda. Prof Rawlings’ wife flew back from an undisclosed overseas location after being informed of her husband’s death.

This is exactly like something from Morse. I hope he doesn't turn out to be a nutter or something.

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Oxford University professor Steve Rawlings 'had an intense job and was an intense person' - Telegraph

Prof Steve Rawlings, 50, one of Britain’s leading astrophysicists, was found dead at the home of Dr Devinder Sivia, 49, after what police initially suggested had been a violent altercation between the pair. The men had been friends for 30 years.


A post mortem examination failed to establish the exact cause of death and police are now looking at any underlying health issues that Prof Rawlings may have had.


Dr Sivia, a maths tutor, spent more than 24 hours in custody being questioned on suspicion of murder but was released after detectives said it was possible the death had not been the result of foul play.


Officers said it might be a matter for the coroner’s court rather than the criminal court.


Prof Rawlings’s wife, Linda, 50, said her husband had been best friends with Dr Sivia since university and urged people not to blame him for the death.

In a statement released by Thames Valley Police she said: “Steve and Devinder were best friends since college, and I believe this is a tragic accident.”

The statement continued: “I do not believe that Steve’s death is murder and I do not believe Devinder should be tarnished in this way.”

Prof Rawlings’s sister, Linda Davey, 64, added: “We can’t think that there was any kind of fight. We can only assume that it was a terrible accident. Steven was big but he was gentle.”

In her statement, Mrs Rawlings said: “Steve is a man of integrity, kindness and a very accessible person.

“Steve was the love of my life and we have known each other all of these years and he has never changed, even though he has achieved so much and has all these qualities.

“I will miss him more than anything else in the world.”

Friends of the academic, an astro-physicist, claimed he had been suffering from stress in recent months and had previously had a breakdown.

A close friend and neighbour said he had spoken to Prof Rawlings only hours before he died and said that he had appeared troubled and was considering resigning from his post at Oxford.

The friend, who asked not to be identified, said: “I just can’t believe it – he was here in my house just the day before. He knocked on my door and wanted to chat.

“I could tell he wanted to get some things off his chest. He was thinking about the future and contemplating handing his notice in to St Peter’s College. He had a very intense job and he was a very intense person.

“He had had a breakdown last year and on that occasion was found wandering around the village in his dressing gown in the middle of the night.”

Prof Rawlings and Dr Sivia had spent the evening together at a local pub where they had eaten dinner before returning to Dr Sivia’s home in the village of Southmoor, Oxon.

Staff at the Bear Hotel in Wantage said that Prof Rawlings, who regularly ate there with his wife at weekends, had arrived with Dr Sivia on Wednesday at about 6.30pm.

They said he had appeared to be in a subdued mood and was eager to leave once the meal was finished. The pair, who both ordered fish and chips and drank only tap water, stayed at the pub for around an hour.

One member of staff said: “He wasn’t his normal self, he was quite quiet, when they left it was as if he couldn’t get out the door quick enough, normally he and his wife would stay for hours.

“He did say something like 'see you again’. The waitress that went to the table said that they didn’t say please or thank you, normally he does. When she told me that I thought it was a bit strange.

“There was no atmosphere between them, they were quiet, I did sense something wasn’t right when they walked in to the restaurant.”

After leaving the pub, according to police sources there was an altercation at Dr Sivia’s home during which he suffered minor cuts and bruises and Prof Rawlings collapsed.

Police began a murder investigation within an hour of arriving at the bungalow and neighbours said that they saw Dr Sivia being led away in handcuffs.

Det Supt Rob Mason, from the Thames Valley Police Major Crime Unit, said: “This is a tragic incident and our investigations are ongoing to establish the cause of death.

“A substantial amount of information is already in the public domain and we can confirm that the two individuals involved have been friends for over 30 years.

“I would emphasise that the police are investigating all potential circumstances that could have led to his death.

“We are mindful that ultimately the death may be a matter for a coroner’s inquest rather than a criminal court and I would ask for patience from both the media and the public while we continue our investigation.”

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