FT238

Francis Tovey, 81, who lived alone on the Australian Gold Coast, killed himself by building a complex "suicide machine" from plans on the Internet and then programming it to shoot him. The machine was reported to have involved a jigsaw power tool and was connected to a .22 semi-automatic pistol that could fire multiple shots. Mr Tovey, who was born in England, set it up in his drive and then sat in front of it. He was looking for a way out after coming under pressure from relatives to move out of his £450,000 house and into an old people's home.

(London) Eve. Standard, 19 Mar; D. Telegraph, 21 Mar 2008