A BARRISTER found hanged in his £350,000 home had money worries, an inquest heard.
The body of Warren Grier was found by his wife at about 6am on August 2 last year.
Mr Grier, a 46-year-old father-of-two, worked as a clerk in Sunderland Magistrates’ Court until he became a barrister specialising in criminal cases.
The inquest, at the Coroner’s Court in Crook, was told Mr Grier spent the previous evening watching television with his wife and went to bed as normal.
Detective Sergeant Joanne Long said: “He got up during the night.
“His wife found him at about 6am, which our inquiries indicate is shortly after his death.”
The hearing was told that Mrs Grier contacted police and neighbours who lived near the house at Dovecote Farm, Waldridge Lane, Chester-le-Street.
“They were on the scene first,” said Det Sgt Long. “Among those was a doctor who carried out an initial examination.
“We are satisfied there was no third-party involvement or suspicious circumstances.
“Neither had Mr Grier given any indication or thoughts it would happen,
“He was under financial pressure relating to a business venture.”
No note relating to the death was found in the house, nor was anything found on mobile phones and computers used by Mr Grier.
A post-mortem examination found he died from asphyxiation.
There were no traces of drugs or alcohol in his body.
North Durham Coroner Andrew Tweddle said: “The evidence points to only one conclusion: Mr Grier took his own life.
“I’ve been sitting here for 25 years and have never found a nice way of saying that, but that is the verdict I must record.”
Verdict: Warren Grier took his own life.
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