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Times photographer's family withdraw call for inquiry into his death
Stephen Brook, The Guardian (UK)
July 31, 2008

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/jul/31/thetimes.pressandpublishing

The family of Times photographer Richard Mills have rescinded their call for an inquiry into his death while on undercover assignment in Zimbabwe. Mills, 41, who joined the Times in 2000, was found dead in the paper's safe house in Harare earlier this month while on undercover assignment with Catherine Philp, the Times diplomatic correspondent, who discovered his body. A postmortem in Harare decided the cause of death was suicide. Philp agreed with the postmortem result. However, the International Federation of Journalists called for an inquiry, saying it was prompted by concerns from the Mills family. Today the IFJ also rescinded the call. "Having had the chance to examine in detail the circumstances surrounding Richard's death we are now reconciled to the fact that he did indeed take his own life," Mills' family said today in a statement. "We acknowledge that the amount of suffering and extreme hardship he witnessed at first hand in many harrowing situations throughout the world proved too much for him to bear. "We would respectfully ask the media to stop further speculation and let the family mourn our loss and grieve in peace."

The IFJ general secretary, Aidan White, added: "Our initial statement was in response to a call from his family, but we have decided not to press ahead and have withdrawn our initial statement following a new statement from the family acknowledging that such an inquiry was not required. "The IFJ notes how Richard's family acknowledges that the amount of suffering and extreme hardship he witnessed at first hand in many harrowing situations throughout the world proved too much for him to bear. This tragedy reflects once again the enormous pressures placed upon individual journalists expected to cover traumatic events. We respect very much the wish of Richard's family and colleagues that they should be allowed to grieve without further media intrusion." James Harding, the Times editor, told the staff at the newspaper this week: "Richard was an outstanding photographer. He reported for the Times from some of the most troubled places in the world. "His work captured, with great humanity, the plight of people trying to live ordinary lives whilst caught up in extraordinary situations. "He had an unerring eye and a rare combination of courage and compassion. He was respected and loved by his colleagues. The Times has lost a great friend, a gifted photographer and a brave journalist."

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