A British arms expert whose death has plunged Prime Minsiter Tony Blair's government into crisis was probably driven to suicide by public exposure and feelings his superiors had lost faith in him, it was claimed today.
Psychiatric expert Dr Keith Hawton told the Hutton Inquiry into the death of Dr David Kelly that the scientist could have taken his ordeal as a form of public disgrace, leading to a sense of profound hopelessness.
Dr Kelly (59), who worked for the Ministry of Defence, killed himself in July after being exposed as the source for a BBC report that said the government exaggerated the case for invading Iraq.
Dr Hawton dismissed conspiracy theories that Dr Kelly may not have died by his own hand, saying the wounds on his body, the absence of signs of struggle and the fact he had taken a potentially dangerous drug, Coproxamol, all strongly pointed to suicide.
Earlier today, Dr Kelly's doctor said the scientist had never shown signs of depression and a government health check less than two weeks before his death found nothing worrying - suggesting his harrowing final days had a crucial bearing.
His family doctor of 25 years, Dr Malcolm Warner, said Dr Kellyhad never shown symptoms of depression and a Ministry of Defencehealth check in early July had thrown up nothing significant.
The Blair government's public trust ratings have withered over Dr Kelly's treatment and the failure to find banned weapons in Iraq - the main reason the prime minister gave to justify a war that most Britons opposed.
Yesterday, Dr Kelly's widow, Janice, told the inquiry under senior judge Lord Hutton her husband felt betrayed by the Ministry of Defence in the weeks before his death.