The Rev Ian Thompson died from heart failure brought on by asphxyiation.
The Dean of King’s College has been found dead at his home in Cambridgeshire.
His death was announced after it emerged he was being investigated for child abuse.
The Rev Ian Thompson, 49, died from asphyxiation. Police refused to confirm the nature of his death but it is widely believed to be suicide.
Thompson has been under investigation for child abuse since 2007, after claims that he abused several children in Glasgow.
He had been charged in relation to three offences and appeared in court.
A spokesman for the Crown Office in Scotland said: “Ian Thompson, aged 49, from Great Shelford, appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on January 3, 2009 charged with sodomy, assault to injury and rape.”
“He made no plea or declaration and was released on bail.”
The accused Dean spent Lent term on leave from academic duties but remained in his position as treasurer of Cambridge University Combined Boat Clubs.
Friends and colleagues yesterday paid tribute to Rev Thompson.. King’s College announced his “untimely” death on their website, adding, “he will be much missed by many.”
Kings’ JCR President Anna Richardson said “I hope people remember that accusation far from equals guilt, Ian was super loved in King's and was a wonderful mentor to many people.”
Too right Jack, it may not equal guilt but there was obviously evidence to bring a charge and it is of course highly circumstantial that he then proceeded to commit suicide.
It’s the same with Michael Jackson – suddenly dead people can have done no wrong?
Sim, this is not a case of the dead being unable to perform wrong – whether he did or did not commit the crimes he is accused of will become apparent after the necessary investivations are completed. For now, this sort of coverage of his suicide bid is simply making the sensationalists more certain of his wrongdoing (I refer mainly to the all-bold capitalisation of the child-abuse sentence in the story). There are plenty of reasons for a suicide attempt, and this type of negative media attention is certainly one of them. If he did indeed molest children, the facts will emerge in due course. Until then, this is simply a great loss for the university, and should be reported as such.
‘dead people can have done no wrong’
Even if child molestation did take place, there is more to a man than a specific act, a specific desire.
I am sorry if you are judging his entire life on that, Sim.