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.

  • rottingleaf@lemmy.zip
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    5
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    9 months ago

    Then they’d be interested to hire him all kinds of councilors and security guards so that he doesn’t kill himself.

        • aidan@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          1
          arrow-down
          1
          ·
          9 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.

          • rottingleaf@lemmy.zip
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            1
            ·
            9 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@lemmy.world
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              1
              arrow-down
              1
              ·
              9 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”

              • rottingleaf@lemmy.zip
                link
                fedilink
                arrow-up
                2
                ·
                9 months ago

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

                • aidan@lemmy.world
                  link
                  fedilink
                  arrow-up
                  1
                  ·
                  9 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.

                  • rottingleaf@lemmy.zip
                    link
                    fedilink
                    arrow-up
                    2
                    ·
                    9 months ago

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

                    Which is why company is interested in preventing that.