John Barnett had worked for Boeing for 32 years, until his retirement in 2017.

In the days before his death, he had been giving evidence in a whistleblower lawsuit against the company.

Boeing said it was saddened to hear of Mr Barnett’s passing. The Charleston County coroner confirmed his death to the BBC on Monday.

It said the 62-year-old had died from a “self-inflicted” wound on 9 March and police were investigating.

  • @aidan
    link
    29 months ago

    What? And break into his home so he can’t?

      • @aidan
        link
        09 months ago

        Because don’t you think that in itself is a form of witness intimidation? Won’t people be hesitant to volunteer to testify during a lengthy trial if it means a security guard literally watching them sleep and shower for months.

        • @[email protected]
          link
          fedilink
          19 months ago

          I meant not that the witness would be obligated to accept that, but that a company would be interested to offer to pay for various measures to preserve their health, sanity and all that.

          • @aidan
            link
            09 months ago

            But the claim was that he committed suicide, say you’re concerned about the company killing you so you accept their security. Couldn’t the security then just have a good reason to be in your house to “find the body” when you “slip in the shower”

            • @[email protected]
              link
              fedilink
              29 months ago

              You don’t get it, his death before giving witness is unconditionally considered a murder by the company.

              • @aidan
                link
                19 months ago

                So then someone else can kill him like others have said. But depending on what is being whistleblowed, someone in the company taking the fall for murder might not be as bad as what could be discovered. Especially if government agencies are included in this.

                • @[email protected]
                  link
                  fedilink
                  29 months ago

                  So then someone else can kill him like others have said.

                  Which is why company is interested in preventing that.

                  • @aidan
                    link
                    09 months ago

                    So its not really about justice for the murder?