AN inquest jury returned an open verdict on an animal rights activist who died while on hunger strike in protest at animal experiments.
The jury, sitting in Stourport-on-Severn, had been asked to consider whether they were sure that Barry Horne, aged 49, had intended to take his own life.
Horne, who was serving an 18-year jail term for a firebombing campaign, died on November 5, 2001, four days after being admitted to Ronkswood Hospital, Worcester.
Coroner Victor Round read evidence that Horne, from Northampton, was not judged to be mentally ill when he commenced the hunger strike at Long Lartin jail, near Evesham.
Horne, a former dustman with a previous conviction for conspiracy to steal a dolphin, was jailed in November 1997 after being convicted at Bristol Crown Court of a nationwide firebombing campaign.
The inquest was told that when Horne was interviewed by a psychiatrist days before his death, he had denied being depressed and had spelt out the word "proud".
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