Shane Todd's laptop showed access to suicide, depression-related websites

Shane Todd's laptop showed access to suicide, depression-related websites

    By Kimberly Spykerman
    POSTED: 13 May 2013 9:58 PM
   
SINGAPORE: Internet history on American researcher Shane Todd's laptop showed that he had run searches on suicide and depression-related websites in the days before he died. This was revealed on the first day of a coroner's inquiry into his death.

Dr Todd's body was found hanging from a black strap in front of a closed toilet door in his bedroom. According to the police, the strap had a plastic buckle attached to it which acted as a stopper -- securing it against the top end of the toilet door.

Internet history on his laptop revealed that he had accessed suicide-related websites 19 times between March and June 2012. The last one was accessed only the day before his body was found hanged in his apartment.

According to patterns of Internet activity, Dr Todd had searched different methods of committing suicide. Depression-related webpages were also accessed -- mostly in May 2012.

Senior State Counsel Tai Wei Shyong gave these details in an opening statement to the court.

Dr Todd's parents, who have flown here for the inquiry, believe their son was murdered over research he had done while working for the Singapore Institute of Microelectronics.

However, there were notes, believed to be written by Dr Todd, found on his laptop. The notes were found after the investigation officer accessed his laptop using a password written on a post-it pad.

They were for his family, girlfriend, and friends. He said he loved them and asked their forgiveness for the pain he caused them.

Dr Todd's girlfriend and friends took the stand on Monday to describe his state of mind in the months before he died. Calling him a perfectionist, they said he was unhappy and stressed about his work. They also said he had lost weight and a twitching in his hands had become more pronounced in the months leading up to his death.

Dr Todd's girlfriend Shirley Sarmiento said he told her he had suffered from depression since October 2011. He also told her he was unhappy after transferring to another department, and working on a project that he felt could get him into trouble with the American government.

The court heard earlier that Dr Todd had seen a psychiatrist while in Singapore and been prescribed anti-depressant pills.

Officers and paramedics who were first at the scene said there were no signs of forced entry or foul play when they entered Dr Todd's apartment.

However, the counsel for the Todd family questioned if it was right for them to cut the rope holding up Dr Todd's body before the forensics team arrived, saying that that could have changed material evidence at the scene.

The court however heard that it was standard procedure to bring down a body found hanging as the priority was to "save lives". The first-responders also said they remembered seeing Dr Todd's feet on the floor when they entered the room, but could not be sure if his legs were bearing his weight.

The Todd family also said they appreciated the help they had received for the inquiry.

Rick Todd, the father of Dr Todd, said: "We really appreciate the process going on here. It's a slow process so we really appreciate the way Singapore conducts its court system."

Earlier, he and his wife thanked the Singapore government for allowing them to be part of the inquest.

The inquiry continues.

- CNA/ac


- wong chee tat :)