Death of Stephen Hilder: Difference between revisions
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== Investigation == |
== Investigation == |
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The police initially reported that his parachute had been [[sabotage]]d, with the risers (fabric connectors between the harness and lines) for his reserve parachute having been cut.<ref>{{cite news|date=6 |
The police initially reported that his parachute had been [[sabotage]]d, with the risers (fabric connectors between the harness and lines) for his reserve parachute having been cut.<ref>{{cite news|date=6 July 2003|title=Police say sabotaged parachute caused sky-diver's death fall|work=[[The Scotsman]]|author=Nicholas Christian|url=http://news.scotsman.com/skydiverstephenhildersdeath/Police-say-sabotaged-parachute-caused.2441577.jp}}</ref> A 10-month search for a murderer with a motive ensued, with two of Hilder's friends, Adrian Blair and David Mason, being arrested at one point and later released without charge.<ref name=Telegraph1>{{cite news|title=Skydiver's pallbearers held over his murder|author=Paul Stokes|date=23 October 2003|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/10/23/nsky23.xml}}</ref> From the results of DNA tests on the parachute straps, which revealed the presence of Hilder's DNA alone, the police concluded that Hilder had cut the straps himself.<ref name=Telegraph2>{{cite news|title=Skydiver cut his own straps, say police|author=Paul Stokes|date=22 May 2004|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/05/22/njump22.xml}}</ref><ref name=Telegraph3>{{cite news|title=Why would Stephen kill himself?|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=23 May 2004|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/05/23/nsky23.xml|author=Olga Craig}}</ref> A coroner's inquest recorded an [[open verdict]] on the cause of Hilder's death.<ref name=SMH1>{{cite news|title=Open verdict: skydiver's death still a mystery|date=25 March 2005|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Open-verdict-skydivers-death-still-a-mystery/2005/03/24/1111525293556.html|work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]]}}</ref> |
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The jump took place at the Hibaldstow Parachute Centre in [[Lincolnshire]]. One of the few leads that the police had when searching for a saboteur was an old issue of an American skydiving magazine, found at the [[drop zone]], that reported one of the four other recorded cases of sabotaged parachutes in the history of skydiving. The reports of sabotage had noticeable effects on the subsequent behaviour of parachutists at championship events, and resulted in an increase in the sales of secure bags for the storage of equipment.<ref>{{cite news|title=The man who fell to earth|work=[[The Observer]] Sport Monthly|author=Richard Pedley|url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/osm/story/0,,1053330,00.html|date=5 October 2003}}</ref> |
The jump took place at the Hibaldstow Parachute Centre in [[Lincolnshire]]. One of the few leads that the police had when searching for a saboteur was an old issue of an American skydiving magazine, found at the [[drop zone]], that reported one of the four other recorded cases of sabotaged parachutes in the history of skydiving. The reports of sabotage had noticeable effects on the subsequent behaviour of parachutists at championship events, and resulted in an increase in the sales of secure bags for the storage of equipment.<ref>{{cite news|title=The man who fell to earth|work=[[The Observer]] Sport Monthly|author=Richard Pedley|url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/osm/story/0,,1053330,00.html|date=5 October 2003}}</ref> |
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Revision as of 21:03, 21 February 2011
Stephen Hilder | |
|---|---|
| Rank | Officer Cadet |
Stephen Hilder was a 20-year-old Officer Cadet at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom in Shrivenham, Wiltshire, England. On 4 July 2003, Hilder fell 4,000 metres (13,000 ft) to his death when, during a skydive, both his main and reserve parachutes failed.
Investigation
The police initially reported that his parachute had been sabotaged, with the risers (fabric connectors between the harness and lines) for his reserve parachute having been cut.[1] A 10-month search for a murderer with a motive ensued, with two of Hilder's friends, Adrian Blair and David Mason, being arrested at one point and later released without charge.[2] From the results of DNA tests on the parachute straps, which revealed the presence of Hilder's DNA alone, the police concluded that Hilder had cut the straps himself.[3][4] A coroner's inquest recorded an open verdict on the cause of Hilder's death.[5]
The jump took place at the Hibaldstow Parachute Centre in Lincolnshire. One of the few leads that the police had when searching for a saboteur was an old issue of an American skydiving magazine, found at the drop zone, that reported one of the four other recorded cases of sabotaged parachutes in the history of skydiving. The reports of sabotage had noticeable effects on the subsequent behaviour of parachutists at championship events, and resulted in an increase in the sales of secure bags for the storage of equipment.[6]
The laboratory test results that revealed that Hilder had cut his own straps caused bafflement for both the police and Hilder's family and friends, who had seen no indication that Hilder was intending to commit suicide. One police officer stated that "Nothing we have discovered during the investigation and no one we have interviewed has said anything to suggest Stephen may have been contemplating killing himself.".[4]
On 25 March 2005, North Lincolnshire coroner Stewart Atkinson refused to accept that the death was a suicide after a forensic scientist testified that the lack of DNA could be attributable to a saboteur wearing gloves. Atkinson also stated that there was no proof that someone else was responsible for the straps being cut, either.[5]
References
- ^ Nicholas Christian (6 July 2003). "Police say sabotaged parachute caused sky-diver's death fall". The Scotsman.
- ^ Paul Stokes (23 October 2003). "Skydiver's pallbearers held over his murder". The Daily Telegraph.
- ^ Paul Stokes (22 May 2004). "Skydiver cut his own straps, say police". The Daily Telegraph.
- ^ a b Olga Craig (23 May 2004). "Why would Stephen kill himself?". The Daily Telegraph.
- ^ a b "Open verdict: skydiver's death still a mystery". Sydney Morning Herald. 25 March 2005.
- ^ Richard Pedley (5 October 2003). "The man who fell to earth". The Observer Sport Monthly.
Further reading
- "Skydiver Stephen Hilder's death". The Scotsman. – The Scotsman's index of its coverage of the aftermath of Stephen Hilder's death
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