Disabled pensioner gave thumbs up as he took his own life (From The Northern Echo)

Disabled pensioner gave thumbs up as he took his own life

7:32pm Friday 3rd September 2010 in

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A disabled pensioner who took his own life at a suicide clinic in Switzerland had his final moments captured on DVD.

The recording, which shows Douglas Sinclair drinking a lethal cocktail of drugs before turning to the camera, smiling and giving the thumbs up, has been seized by police as part of an investigation into his death.

Two friends of Mr Sinclair have been bailed after being arrested on suspicion of assisting his suicide.

Lawyers for Mr Sinclair, who until his illness had lived on Highfield Drive, South Shields, yesterday said they had represented both suspects at South Shields Police Station, where they were questioned earlier this month, on their return from Switzerland.

One of those arrested was Mr Sinclair's close friend and former neighbour Janet Grieves.

The 47-year-old lived next door to the father-of-one for a number of years and started caring for him following the death of his wife Monica, who died from leukaemia more than 10 years ago.

The identity of the 48-year-old man who was also arrested in connection with the case, and who is believed to have travelled to Switzerland with Mr Sinclair, is still unknown.

Mr Sinclair's daughter, Helen Sinclair, who now lives in Cleveland Avenue, Darlington, yesterday defended her father’s decision to take his own life at the Dignitas clinic in Zurich on July 28 following a debilitating illness.

The 41-year-old said she was devastated by her father’s choice, but supported and respected his decision: “Although this was disturbing and upsetting for me, I respect his decision and hope others respect my wishes to grieve in private.

“He was devastated by the loss of his wife, my mother, and since his illness decided to end his life with dignity in the manner of his choosing.

“My father was a popular and caring man. He will be greatly missed by all those who knew him."

Mr Sinclair suffered for more than two years from a rare disorder known as multiple system atrophy, which caused his body to slowly shut down.