AddThis SmartLayers

Inquest fails to solve mystery of journalist’s death

An inquest has failed to establish a cause of death for a former regional daily chief reporter found dead at his home last year.

Robert Nesbitt, who was known as Bert, worked for the now-defunct Doncaster Evening Post from the mid-1970s.

His body was discovered at his home in Doncaster by his regular cleaner in November 2013 and coroner Nicola Mundy ordered an autopsy be carried out.

However at an inquest held last week, Dr Anju Verghese, consultant pathologist at Doncaster Royal Infirmary, said the cause of death was unascertained.

Pc Paul White told the inquest there were no suspicious circumstances or any evidence of a third party being involved in his death.

Assistant Coroner Mark Beresford recorded an open verdict.

Robert originated from Northern Ireland and came to South Yorkshire in the mid-1970s when he joined the Evening Post as a reporter

When the paper folded in 1983, he went freelance and reported on cases at Doncaster Crown Court

A widower, he lived alone in a bungalow in Silver Jubilee Court in the Wheatley Hills area of the town.

One comment

You can follow all replies to this entry through the comments feed.
  • May 28, 2014 at 9:05 pm
    Permalink

    So sorry to hear of Bert’s demise. He provided the Doncaster Free Press (which I was Editor of in the 80’s and 90’s) with excellent, and bomb-proof, copy. His shorthand matched the very best. As a freelancer, it arrived as a `black’ – who else remembers carbon paper and typewriters? – with virtually no typing errors. He would have loved to have been at his own funeral – the Open Verdict would have made great copy with its so many unanswered questions. . . .

    Report this comment

    Like this comment(0)